5000turboman00

anyone have a bentley factory repair manual for 87 5000CS turbo quattro...that can fax me the pages on power steering...hopefully there arn't that many and this might not be a problem, but kinda wanna get the car back going, before waiting for the manual to come. Let me know if someone can do this, if not no big deal

Kneale Brownson

Do you know what you're looking for? There are something like 26 pages in the Bentley for the 5000s regarding the steering system.

5000turboman00

well my power steering is starting to leak pretty bad, just looked today and found out its down in the steering rack and i just wanted to get some type of diagram or something on the steering rack, to come real familiar with it.

SteveJ_in_TX

The steering system on a 5k is a much higher pressure system than the normal car, as such the seals are subject to much more pressure. When they let go, you usually see the 'flood' of green gold (pentosin) leaking out of your car.

Jorgen racks have a good reputation for rebuilding the racks on the 5k's, I personally would not trust the rebuilt racks in the local parts stores because of the high pressure seals. Jorgen has a website you can look up the price on.

If you live in a climate that has moderate temperatures, there is a Mobil mineral based substitute that is much cheaper than Pentosin (do NOT use regular parts store variety power steering fluid as it not only will destroy the rack but will destroy the PS pump, too). However, some have said that the fluid gets too thick when exposed to extremely cold temps. Might be an option if you want to wait until warm temps to replace the rack...the first time I replaced a rack it was an all day affair.

When you replace the rack, be sure you have all the other hoses as well, Napa sells the high pressure pump-to-rack hose (with the correct damper installed inline) for much cheaper than the Audi stealer, er, dealer. Lifetime warranty, too. Look thru the archives and you should see the post. You'll also need the correct sized crush washers when installing the lines.

Good luck.

Kneale Brownson

Mobil DTE whatever has to get really cold--like 20 below zero (F)--to start getting slow, and that shouldn't mean it's a big problem.

I went all of two winters ago, including some days with temperatures in the 10-12 below zero (F)range using a similar cheaper product from Shell called Tellus 32T in one of our V8s because of a power steering pump leak I didn't want to address until spring, when I did a timing belt on the car. Worked great and was about $8 a gallon in a 5-gallon pail.

Kneale Brownson

Is it leaking from the rack into the bellows or is it leaking from the hose that runs between the pump and rack? The latter is, obviously, much easier to repair.

CarIsScrewed

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/115250/steeringrack.jpg"></center><p>

5000turboman00

99.99% sure the bellows are not torn, but will double check in the morning, but the leak is right near where each tie rod goes into the steering assembly, coming out of the bellows i presume. If the bellows are not torn would it be best to purchase a p/s seal kit. Although I'm still unsure of where all the seals underneath the bellows and valve housing exactly are. suggestions on the whole situation?

5000turboman00

massachuestts, connecticut area

Kneale Brownson

Sounds like the rack seals leaking. There IS a reseal kit, but most folks who've tried it have found they're removing the rack again fairly soon down the road for replacement.

Jorgen used to sell a rebuilt rack that included a stainless rod that wouldn't pit and tear up the seals. Not sure they still do. They were a pretty fast turn-around to send you back your rack if they don't have one in stock to sell you outright.<ul><li><a href="http://www.jorgenauto.com/">Jorgen</a></li></ul>