How Power Steering Specialists Replace Seals

How power steering specialists Replace Seals

Many modern cars are equipped with power steering and are prone to problems with seals failing. Once a seal has failed then the power steering fluid leaks out of the system which in turn causes problems with steering the vehicle. Below is a step by step guide to how Power Steering Specialists repair power steering seals that have failed.

Identifying the Failed Seal

When a seal fails it can travel quite a distance before it decides to stop leaking. Identifying where the leak is coming from is a major part of the repair. Often the leak will start at the top of the failed seal and work its way down to a large leak. Power Steering Specialists start by cleaning the area where the leak is coming from. Then they run the engine for a few seconds to see where the new fluid is leaking from. There are 3 main types of seals on a vehicle powered by a hydraulic power steering system. The Rack seal, the Pump shaft seal and the High-Pressure hose end seal. Each of these seals fail in different ways.

Draining and Flushing the System

It is standard practice for Power Steering Specialists to drain the old fluid from the power steering system before attempting to repair a faulty seal. Power steering fluid is known to degrade rapidly and pick up all manner of dirt and grime, therefore flushing the system with new power steering fluid is the norm in order to prevent any possibility of contamination.

Removing the Component

Firstly, the component that contains the failed seal will need to be removed. Typically this would be the rack or the pump. The steering rack seals are located within the rack housing so the complete rack will need to be removed from the vehicle. Care and the correct use of pullers will be required to remove the rack from the steering column splines and the track end housings.

Fitting the New Seal

The new seal must be of the same material as the original. The most common type of power steering seal is a lip seal, made from nitrile or PTFE. These are pressed into the seal housing using a seal driver, which is specifically designed for the job and ensures that the seal is seated squarely. If a seal is cocked it will leak almost immediately.

The seal material, tolerances and dimensions of the new seals need to be the same as the failed part to meet the vehicle approval standards. This is not a component that you can alter in any way and expect the same result.

Reassembly and Pressure Testing

The relevant component (such as a rack or pump) is then refitted and the system replenished with fluid. The engineer then runs the engine and locks and unlocks the steering lock a number of times to test for any leaks whilst the system is under working pressure. The vehicle is then returned to the customer.

A proper seal replacement job will leave the system fluid-tight and the customer can enjoy smooth steering as intended.