Power steering fluid leaking somewhere

[Kardell]

Hi All,
I hope you are well.
I have this issue for some time now.
I have first discovered this when after intensive driving on a trip power steering started with a creak noise.
I have checked the fluid level and it was below, so I topped it up.
It was still doing this noise for some time but less. Then I checked online and decided to flush the power steering system.
I got 3L of green PS fluid. I used all 2 liters to flush the old one, to get all brownish (no longer transparent), mushy fluid. I was flushing it until I saw green, transparent fluid.
I topped it up with the remaining 1l.
It was fine for some time, but after a while I have noticed that the fluid has dropped again.
Definitely the fluid is not dropping when the car is stationary and there is no spill marks on the road surface.
I recon this is happening when the car is doing full turns (e.g. 3 point turn) or any other heavier steering + where the terrain is more bumpy (yet this is city driving), then I hear and feel that the steering pump, gear or whatever is struggling at the ends.
Car has 17" wide sports wheels.
What would you suggest to check first?
Thank you

[B6ayfour]

Tbh the steering racks in these cars are just awful when it comes to leaks. Havent had a single one without at least a small leak. That being said if it is a small leak you can try some of that power steering stop leak fluid. Ive used it on every a4 ive had and its always solved it for me.

[diagnosticator]

Pull the boots on the tie rods back away from the tie rod ends. I found on my old rack that the boots had a lot of PS fluid inside. If there is fluid inside the boots, the rack needs to be replaced.

[Gberg888]

I have a leaking PS rack... gonna be a nice 1250 bill once I get it done.

[Kardell]

I have a look.
If you are saying that these cars have poor (not long lasting) steering racks I would definitely go and replace it.
It scares me that this ball joint could potentially fell off causing a disaster while driving.

What do you think about remanufactured PS racks?
In the UK they do them and sell on exchange basis.
It is about 60-70% of the cost of a new Remy PS rack.

[customa4]

I have a look.
If you are saying that these cars have poor (not long lasting) steering racks I would definitely go and replace it.
It scares me that this ball joint could potentially fell off causing a disaster while driving.

What do you think about remanufactured PS racks?
In the UK they do them and sell on exchange basis.
It is about 60-70% of the cost of a new Remy PS rack.

A lot of people have had good luck with rackdoctor. They sell remanufactured racks.

[diagnosticator]

I have a look.
If you are saying that these cars have poor (not long lasting) steering racks I would definitely go and replace it.
It scares me that this ball joint could potentially fell off causing a disaster while driving.

What do you think about remanufactured PS racks?
In the UK they do them and sell on exchange basis.
It is about 60-70% of the cost of a new Remy PS rack.

I just replaced my leaking wimpy Koyo rack with 125K miles on it with a remanufactured ZF S4 Servotronic steering rack. Much improvement. $325 exchange.

Ball joint falling off? There is no danger of that.

[Kardell]

I am just under the impression that eventually one of the front wheels will fell off on these bumpy British roads. One of the worst driving experience for sports cars, roads full of bumps to slow you down.
I bet this is killing steering racks in majority of cars.
If you don't know in London 20mph it is becoming a general speed limit. You have bumps and other means to slow you down + 20mph speed cameras.
I imagine a IXX century horse cart driver commenting on this civilization "advancement". Ridicculous

[DarkoNova]

I just replaced my leaking wimpy Koyo rack with 125K miles on it with a remanufactured ZF S4 Servotronic steering rack. Much improvement. $325 exchange.

Ball joint falling off? There is no danger of that.

Where'd you get it? Rack doctor?

[diagnosticator]

Where'd you get it? Rack doctor?

eBay/United Power Steering, Detroit, MI.

Don't install a Servotronic steering rack without retrofitting the Servotronic control module and wiring. Get a ZF non Servotronic steering (A4 not S4) rack instead. The ZF rack with or without Servotronic is superior compared to the Koyo rack .

[diagnosticator]

I am just under the impression that eventually one of the front wheels will fell off on these bumpy British roads. One of the worst driving experience for sports cars, roads full of bumps to slow you down.
I bet this is killing steering racks in majority of cars.
If you don't know in London 20mph it is becoming a general speed limit. You have bumps and other means to slow you down + 20mph speed cameras.
I imagine a IXX century horse cart driver commenting on this civilization "advancement". Ridicculous

Hard to imagine UK/London roads are worse than US/Seattle roads.

[Kardell]

I just think that majority of the side, residential roads should be closed instead of presenting a driver with an ocean of bumps, literally a bump every 20m.
The quality of motorways/highways is another thing. Highways in Netherlands or Germany are far better, you drive 140mph and you won't feel the speed, surface even like airport runway.

[Seerlah]

B5, but my system had two leaks before. One at rubber hose to cooler connection, other at high pressure hose on factory crimp. Both easy fixes. First, replace garbage oem pinch camp with screw clamp. Second, replaced hose with used oem one off eBay for cheap.

[Kardell]

How do you know if the issue is with a PS rack or with a PS pump?

[Kardell]

Could you recommend a UK based PS rack reconditioning company?
The cheapest I come across:
Steering Specialist Limited: 18 Months Unlimited Mileage Warranty (they collect your steering rack and fix it, so it is not a replacement service)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-8E...oAAOSwQTVV8VZ1

Western Power Steering Ltd. The Specialist: 24 Months Unlimited Mileage Warranty
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A4-B6...kAAOxy63FS8JuR

The most expensive ACS Power Steering: 12 Months Unlimited Mileage Warranty a bit short (honest?)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A4-PO...0AAOSwxCxT2jYb


I would consider an original part instead as they say that the reconditioned ones last months not years, but do not know what PS rack model will fit in in there (the part is well hidden I cannot read any numbers)
Besides for them to send a replacement is not a problem but for me it is another £200-300 for labour.

I can also predict additional cost of a new PS pump. I do not know how often these parts fail at the same time, but can see that some people have been billed for this in the same time.

Please advise
Thank you