98 V70: PS Rack Toes Up! Topic is solved

[sleddriver]

Well, it looks like my luck has run out. Fortunately this occured today when I didn't have to be anywhere vs. Sat. when I drove 338mi round trip to HTX and back with misting rain and 75% in the dark! Very thankful this didn't occur then!

I checked the PS fluid level before I left on that trip. Then checked it today before starting. Nothing unusual. However, went for a drive around a lake with lots of twisties so there was a lot of turning the wheel back-and-forth. Coming back I needed to make a left turn and while doing so noticed a loud groaning sound and quite a bit of additional effort.

Pulled over when safe and discovered the PS fluid was low & boiling!! I looked behind the car and didn't see any drips, much less a trial. No fluid on board. Made the decision to drive home as it was about 5 mi., rather straight (no more twisties), and all downhill.

When home, noticed nearly all fluid was gone. Immediately filled reservoir, heard some loud growling (overheated pump? bearing?), then quieted down. Noticed fluid level was dropping... Looked underneath to discover a growing puddle on drvrs. side. All I saw from above was deformed drvr. PS boot....so I reached under, grabbed it and squeezed, noticed a small stream of fluid coming out. I think the drvr end seal gave way, hastened by the in-n-out of the twisties.

Rats.........

Not sure of the rack manufacturer. It was refurbed by Maval and installed by my indy. He got it from WorldPac and it does carry a lifetime warranty. I still have the receipt and followed up with them a while back. I'll have to cover the labor + alignment but at least not the rack. I've read that DIY rack replacement is a RPITA. Then again, so was the rear motor mount! I'd definitely drop the rear sub-frame per IPD's instructions should I decided to do it on my own.

Anyone know what book time is to R/R a PS rack?

If I remember, I think they quoted me about $250 - 300.

Seeking advice from someone who has done this job before.......

[sleddriver]

I did find some useful archive threads. Haven't had a chance to completely read through them though. I also need to contact Maval and see if they'll offer any consideration besides a replacement. Could be there's no warranty if I install it?? Also have to check through indy re: WorldPac. Looks like I'll be borrowing the neighbors truck a few days!

[sleddriver]

Inspection revealed Volvo's logo stamped on the body. This one is a TRW. The plug/cap on the bottom, opposite the steering shaft is round. Only numbers I could see are "549 P". It was remanned by Maval.

Is this enough info to ID the rack, or do I need more numbers?

[erikv11]

Haven't done a rack job myself, nothing useful to contribute on those points. I'd farm out the labor again - my $0.02. Sorry for your loss!

Just knowing it is TRW should be enough - there are only two rack options. That's all Jorgen needed to know when they sold me a rebuilt. Well, assuming it was the standard TRW rack that was put in the last time around, which seems likely given the Volvo logo.

[sleddriver]

OEM rack leaked badly and was replaced on Nov. 9, 2004 at roughly 80,000mi. The Maval TRW rebuild has lasted a bit over 10yrs and 134,500mi. The workorder showed a book time of 3hrs to R&R. At currently shop rate of $100/hr, it'll be a bit over $300. Shouldn't be any tax on the labor. Then I'll have to get another alignment for 60 - $75. Or I could just DIY it by measuring it before taking it in and checking this after I get it back. The new rack should come with new inner tie rods + boots, correct? The drvrs boot is warped evidently due to heat from the hot fluid leaking into it. But I still have the pass. side which was just installed new earlier this year. So I'll have to get it for a spare.

Looks like I'm going to finally pay someone to work on my car for the first time in ........? Can't remember! Probably the second TB service was the last time! Around 140,000mi or so. Given the magnitude of this job, with no help and no hoist and the monumental amount of work done by myself this year already, I think it's time to treat myself and pay someone else to do it.

In Nov. 2004, I was charged $500 for the rack alone! If I remember correctly, both Jorgen and Rack Dr. charge about half that currently +$65 core. Everybody I called today was closed. Hopefully I can get this sorted this week. I wonder if the steering effort will be reduced with the new rack? Just curious.....

[erikv11]

... The new rack should come with new inner tie rods + boots, correct? ...

Yep.

The rack I got from Jorgen, I was not excited about the quality of the inner tie rods that came with it. I had recently put TRW inners on the failed rack anyway, so I swapped those on and the inners that came with the rack are just sitting. Installing the rack was a piece of cake! Oh, the engine happened to be out of the car at the time ...

[sleddriver]

^^^
Having the engine out of the way sure would make it easy & convienent to fix so many things!

[sleddriver]

Update: I wisely turned this one over to the indy who installed it. WorldPac had a rack in-stock, dropped it off last night so the engine/trans would all be cold this morning. Hope to have it back today.

If the rack wasn't warrantied, my first step would be to buy a quality reman from either Jorgen or Rack Dr. (~ $250) rather than pay Worldpac > $500 $600? for whoever they use now a days.

[cn90]

I wonder how much (how many hours) is the book charge for the Steering Rack job?

[erikv11]

... OEM rack leaked badly and was replaced on Nov. 9, 2004 at roughly 80,000mi. ... The workorder showed a book time of 3hrs to R&R. ...

I wonder how much (how many hours) is the book charge for the Steering Rack job?

Wonder no more!