The steering rack and pinion are components found in almost all power steering systems of vehicles. It is a double gear set that is ultimately responsible for allowing the driver to turn the vehicle’s wheels.
In other words, the rotational movement of the steering wheel is converted into the linear movement needed for the wheels to turn. Naturally, if the steering rack and pinion were leaking power steering fluid due to damage or wear, you would then have a lot of trouble steering your vehicle.
Main Symptoms of a Rack and Pinion Leak
1) Hard to Turn Steering Wheel
If you turn the steering wheel and it seems hard to turn or too tight, you likely have a leak or another problem with your steering rack and pinion.
The transmission needs an adequate supply of fluid so that enough hydraulic pressure is generated for you to turn the steering wheel easily. With a low amount of power steering fluid, there will be less hydraulic pressure. This means it will be harder to turn the wheel.
2) Red or Pink Fluid
Vehicles contain many fluids of different colors, including oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. If you see fluid leaking from your vehicle, you might not know where it’s coming from.
Just note that leaking power steering fluid will be red or pink in color. This should be followed by a burning smell which you will discover in the list.
3) Burning Smell
If you have ever smelled burnt oil, you will understand what that smell is like. The interior of your vehicle will emit a burning smell when the power steering fluid is leaking.
This is because there is not enough fluid in the transmission for the hydraulics to work properly.
4) Grinding Noise
If power steering fluid is leaking, a grinding noise is heard every time you turn the steering wheel. This is because the gearbox is not lubricated properly. All that metal touching other metal only creates grinding noises.
5) Steering Wheel Doesn’t Center
The steering wheel will normally return to a centered position when the steering rack and pinion are functioning normally. But if it does not return to the center position, it could be due to a leak in the steering rack and pinion.
The 3 Main Causes of a Rack and Pinion Leak
To understand why a leak would form on the steering rack and pinion, here are three of the most common causes.
1) Loose Connection
If the steering rack and pinion are too loose and improperly installed, power steering fluid will be able to seep in and escape. Make sure these components and all other components of the power steering system are properly installed.
2) Bad Seal
A worn or damaged seal in the steering rack and pinion will cause a power steering fluid leak. Simply replace the faulty seal with a new one before the problem worsens.
A new seal should not be too expensive, but you will probably want to stick with an OEM replacement part for better results.
3) Bad Seals
The steering rack has seals at its end that prevent power steering fluid from passing through. But if you have worn or damaged seals, the fluid can then pass through.
The longer you wait to fix the problem, the worse the hole in them will become. The cheapest solution will be to repair the seals, which is not always feasible.
Otherwise, you will have to replace the entire steering rack and pinion because it is not possible to simply replace the seals separately. They are integrated into the components.