PS fluid leak at the tie rods

[xHeart]

After this morning's groan, I check the reservoir for fluid, it was pink but at the marker Add.
I raised the front, wheels suspended and added about 50ml MOBIL ATF 3309 to make up to COLD marker. Started the engine and slowly turned the steering to lock-to-lock 6 times. Checked the level again it had gone down halfway between ADD and COLD.

Not feeling good, I looked under the car, and found both side are dripping at the tie-rods, here is a photo of driver's side.

PS fluid drips at DS tie-rod

MVS_0649.jpg (393.49 KiB) Viewed 2393 times

[cn90]

Bad news, you need new steering rack, but read on...

1. The traditional way is a rebuilt steering rack, search forum for brand name recommendations (NAPA vs Carquest vs Autozone etc.). Call your local Volvo dealer and ask them which local supplier they use. My local Volvo dealer told me they buy axles and steering rack from NAPA to save their customers money, as Volvo stuffs are expensive!

2. Change ONLY the seals for $50, look into this thread.
The PS Rebuild kit is about $50, you use only the outer seals.
Kind of a ghetto fix but it works.
Email or PM the poster and ask him ("dougy") to see how it goes:

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/15 ... -leak-fix/

[erikv11]

This is pretty common, probably the seals are leaking a little. My 96 was like this when I bought it and was fine for 8 years - some months just a slow leak, most months no leak at all. I am glad I did not switch the rack until the engine was out. The only thing I did was use a turkey baster to switch to Mobil 1 synthetic ATF.

I would start by trying some kind of stop leak magic in a can. The PS rack is the only place in the car I would ever do that. This method works very frequently, I first heard about it from Ozark Lee, here is an older post about it:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=44588

You will also want to look very carefully and see where the leak(s) actually originate. It is also common to have leaks where the hoses attach to the rack, and on the big nut at the bottom of the rack itself. You can tell these pretty easily from leaks that are inside the boots, but you want to be sure. I would do a lot of investigating before I switched out the rack.

[xHeart]

Two views from from the passenger side well. Volvo part $900, Volvo recommended AFT $300.
I suspect it would be same on the driver's side.
Would replacing seal save it?

passenger side - fluid travels to outer tie rod

MVS_0651.jpg (396.21 KiB) Viewed 2371 times

passenger side - pulled the dust cover

MVS_0652.jpg (420.42 KiB) Viewed 2371 times

[xHeart]

This is a driver's side view. Is appears different from passenger's.

driver's side - fluid leak

MVS_0655.jpg (492.48 KiB) Viewed 2364 times

[xHeart]

Thinking about the coolant reservoir, it would empty right away if the fluid is leaking, but may leave some coolant in the block.

I am not sure what to make of PS reservoir.
A good amount leaked out. And now it doesn't drip any more, but there are small amount of leftover fluid at the outer rim of each end of the rack.
The reservoir has a fluid at the Add marker.

Should i suck the rest out from the reservoir and re-fill with Valvoline Max Life Automatic Transmission Stop Leak that Ozark Lee suggested in another post, and drive for few days?

If problem persists, the rack would be repaired or replaced.

[erikv11]

I agree it sure appears to have leaked out the seals at the end of the rack. My take is you don't know over what time period it leaked? In that case, here's my vote:

Clean it up. If it isn't leaking now, don't do anything. See how it goes.

If/when it is leaking, unless it is gushing out try changing the fluid. Try synthetic or the Valvoline stuff, your choice. See how it goes. You can always try one then the other.

Small leaks in the rack are very common at this age and there are a lot of ways to deal with them. Since you only just now discovered it, you will want to watch it for a while and figure out what you are really dealing with, then decide what to do. Unless you just want to replace the rack because you like fixing things (which is OK, I suffer from that sometimes!), this is very much a wait-and-see item. It is not an OMG-replace-it-right-now kind of item. There is no safety issue and the overall condition is not likely to change very quickly.

[confused_al]

After this morning's groan, I check the reservoir for fluid, it was pink but at the marker Add.
I raised the front, wheels suspended and added about 50ml MOBIL ATF 3309 to make up to COLD marker.

AFT used for PS system should be Dexron III as Volvo specified, and Mobil 3309 is JWS 3309 type ATF. They are different as far as friction coefficient and viscosity point of view. I have no idea what would occur if these two fluids are mixed.
Did you have that leak before you added 3309?

[xHeart]

AFT used for PS system should be Dexron III as Volvo specified, and Mobil 3309 is JWS 3309 type ATF. They are different as far as friction coefficient and viscosity point of view. I have no idea what would occur if these two fluids are mixed.
Did you have that leak before you added 3309?

I had replaced both the inner and outer tie rods, and the boots on each side over the thanksgiving break. It was dry and no sign of any fluid.

Temperature is below these days, it groans each morning when steered, so i check the fluid and notice it was at Add marker hence added 50ml AFT 3309. After the lock-to-lock procedure this was the outcome.

Monday, Monday ;(

I agree it sure appears to have leaked out the seals at the end of the rack. My take is you don't know over what time period it leaked? In that case, here's my vote:

Clean it up. If it isn't leaking now, don't do anything. See how it goes.

If/when it is leaking, unless it is gushing out try changing the fluid. Try synthetic or the Valvoline stuff, your choice. See how it goes. You can always try one then the other.

Small leaks in the rack are very common at this age and there are a lot of ways to deal with them. Since you only just now discovered it, you will want to watch it for a while and figure out what you are really dealing with, then decide what to do. Unless you just want to replace the rack because you like fixing things (which is OK, I suffer from that sometimes!), this is very much a wait-and-see item. It is not an OMG-replace-it-right-now kind of item. There is no safety issue and the overall condition is not likely to change very quickly.

Not a drop leaked in last two hours. I have cleaned it and the boot is back on.
Now thinking about sucking the rest out tomorrow after work.
I do not know what fluid is in, it sure is rose color.
Need a direction and willing to take a chance with fluid like Valvoline Max Life, go with DEX III, which synthetic?

[confused_al]

The one I'm using is this one:
http://www.valvoline.com/products/brand ... n-fluid/37
It contains "High-performance seal conditioners maintain and preserve the elasticity of seals to help prevent leaks", and it is synthetic according to the product info (PDF link on the left). I am not sure if its the same one as Erik mentioned tho.