Hi everyone, about two weeks ago My car started making a whirring sound when I turn the wheel at low speeds. A quick search on forums such as this one suggested that the power steering fluid may be low and that this was a common problem for a car of my mileage (~60K). I checked the fluid and it was a little low, I topped up but 2 daysw later the whirring was back. I topped it back up and hoped that if it was a small leak I could keep topping up everytime I had to drive to get me through to payday when I could get it fixed.
Anyway at the end of last week, the leak finally gave out. Pouring fresh power steering fluid into the reservoir results in it flushing straight out close to the rack. My girlfriend was driving it at the time and luckily was with someone with AA membership so we got it towed home.
I'd like to point out, that we haven't driven this car with no power steering fluid. This was in the hope that all that would need replacing would be a hose or seal and that the rack itself would remain undamaged.
Several posts regarding this problem have resulted in changing a hose, but I want to prepare myself in case it's an internal seal in the rack and the whole rack needs replacing. I have seen on ebay racks for £250, I've also seen third party racks for sale in the states for under $500 and I've heard rumours that a MB rack can be up to $1900!
Has anyone had a similar problem and had it fixed at a non-MB garage and how much was the rack + labour? Are there refurb or thrid party racks readily available from places like europarts?
I've just spoken to Mercedes and they've confirmed that a new rack is over £1800, but the guy on the phone thought that if my oil is pouring straight out, then it sounds like a hose has gone. He said that a faulty rack seeps the fluid out. Can anyone confirm this?
Anyway at the end of last week, the leak finally gave out. Pouring fresh power steering fluid into the reservoir results in it flushing straight out close to the rack. My girlfriend was driving it at the time and luckily was with someone with AA membership so we got it towed home.
I'd like to point out, that we haven't driven this car with no power steering fluid. This was in the hope that all that would need replacing would be a hose or seal and that the rack itself would remain undamaged.
Several posts regarding this problem have resulted in changing a hose, but I want to prepare myself in case it's an internal seal in the rack and the whole rack needs replacing. I have seen on ebay racks for £250, I've also seen third party racks for sale in the states for under $500 and I've heard rumours that a MB rack can be up to $1900!
Has anyone had a similar problem and had it fixed at a non-MB garage and how much was the rack + labour? Are there refurb or thrid party racks readily available from places like europarts?
I've just spoken to Mercedes and they've confirmed that a new rack is over £1800, but the guy on the phone thought that if my oil is pouring straight out, then it sounds like a hose has gone. He said that a faulty rack seeps the fluid out. Can anyone confirm this?