Allroad steering rack

[62willys]

Hey all, I've looked at all the offerings from either generic rebuilders or typical Chinese reproductions and I'm not thrilled.
For those that have done the steering rack on their C5, where did you get your new rack and share the joy or disappointment the transaction brought. Basically I'm looking for companies to either support or avoid doing business with.
Background; this will be the 4th steering rack done in this allroad in 3 years. I don't want to keep putting sub-par racks in it. Yes, the pump was done too during the second rack change to eliminate the pressure regulator valve as the culprit for blowing the seals.
I just want a reasonable assurance that I'll get the right rack and that I won't have to do it again in a year.

[rollerton]

So..the seals on the rack are blowing out? That's pretty strange.Have you bought the racks all from the same supplier?
I did one 4 years ago on my old A6 and it's still in the car, no issues at all- though I don't own the car anymore. I just bought a rack off a rebuilder who was an Ebay seller. It was something around $260 shipped.
If the seals in the rack are failing on more than one replacement then something suspicious is going on. The system is not very complicated though, so I'm not sure what my first guess would be.

[PaperToast]

are you using the proper ps fluid?

i had my steering rack rebuilt by a local place about 5 years ago, no leaks

[62willys]

Yeah, I think the p/o just had some bad luck with rebuilds. First and second rack were from an eBay seller, the pump was a rebuilt unit but I'm not sure from where. The third rack (in there currently) was from a national rebuilder (I.e. Rack dr. or steering pros., et-al).
As far as fluid, the p/o had always put vag brand from dealer or pentosin in. He was knowledgeable enough to know which is evident in the condition of the rest of the car as well.
I'm wondering if it's possible for the servotronic to over pressure the rack. Other than the pump and lines (both fairly new), I don't see anything else being capable of causing this other than poor rebuild quality.

[62willys]

And yes, it's blowing fluid out of the boots. Just can't wrap my head around why it's done it 3 times now. Unless the servotronic can over boost the rack, it's either just bad luck with poor rebuild quality, or the pressure relief valve in the pump is toast...