PS rack tech questions -

MisterTurbineTwister

MisterTurbineTwister

Jerk
Oct 2, 2006
31
0
0
Denver
Okay, I have a few questions regarding the power steering systems in the MKIII cars. -

- How do you identify the different types of racks from eachother to determine which one you have?

- Were they specific or did they interchange on TEMS cars?

- And what year did they change?

I'm going through the steering system on my car. It's an '88 MGTE (5spd, don't know if that makes any difference) w/TEMS. I'm slowly going through one piece at a time to correct the systems many problems. The pressure line failed on my brother when he was driving the car and he limped it home (driven about 5 miles). This ultimately took out the pumps primary shaft seal and a few of the other seals inside the pump. I have replaced the unit with a new one as well as all of the pressure line and return soft lines. It made a mess of things, but we have since cleaned everything back up since we replaced the turbo and head gasket when we bought the car in October of 2004.

I've been a member since then, off and on due to some of the hacks, but we've left the car alone since we fixed the leaks in the steering system. My brother has decided that he wants to continue working on the car, a little at a time to get it working and looking good.

He noticed the other day that the car was using ATF when he checked the Power Steering resivoir. We jacked the car up a couple of inches with the wheels still contacting the ground and did a throw test on the steering to see where the system was leaking from.

I have located the leak and it seems to be coming from the RH side primary shaft seal. It's dribbling out of the end of the boot on the rack.

Is there any way to replace the seal easily? I don't mind removing the unit if need be, as I had to take it loose to get the pressure line installed. I've been through it once already.

Has anyone here had any experience with these seals before?

Thanks!

Dave
 
C

cjsupra90

previously chris90na-t
Jun 11, 2005
1,029
0
0
48
Lakeland, FL
Up through 08/88, there was only one rack availible. After 08/88, there were there units availible. One was with PPS (Progressive Power Steeting) and the other two, I am not sure what the differance was. One was specifically for N/A cars and the other was used on both N/A's and Turbo's but non PPS. Now what the actual diferance is between the two non PPS units are, well not really sure, but my guess is a slightly different ratio because the only thing that I can find different in the break down is the pinnion and and rack gears. everything else seems to be the same.
 
MisterTurbineTwister

MisterTurbineTwister

Jerk
Oct 2, 2006
31
0
0
Denver
Hmm. Okay.

I'll have to check my production date. It's probably the earlier of the two, but you never know. I think I remember seeing an '87 production date.

Does anyone know if the PPS was specific to any model? (Turbo, TEMS, etc.)... I would imagine it being a part of the suspension upgrade for the TEMS package, but I don't know for sure.

Thanks for the production date change info. I knew that they did this at some point, and I knew that my car was marginal either way, which is why I asked.

With that being said, does anyone have any experience with changing the seals on the ends of the rack unit? Any pointers?

I was just hoping to fix this leak and buy a new boot, because the rack works great, as does the pump. It just dribbles from time to time out of the right side and needs a new seal. If that's an easy task, I'd rather do that than replace the entire unit. Save time and money.

I'm capable of replacing the rack, but avoidance is key. :biglaugh:
 
akito

akito

Keep Laughing.You're Next
Jul 31, 2006
1,568
0
0
Springfield/Va
i have an 87 n/a and i have PPS, i also have the same FREAKING problem, it leaks from the right side, my pump is fine, just leak because of the previous owner did not ust ATF and used regular PPS fluid TT__TT and i think it killed one of my seals. Im hoping its an easy to take care of.
 
MisterTurbineTwister

MisterTurbineTwister

Jerk
Oct 2, 2006
31
0
0
Denver
Well, that's cool. My curiousity was really on the sidelines with the PPS or not.

I think the same thing happened with my car. There are some people working at auto parts stores these days that really shouldn't.

I went to an Auto Zone to get some oil to change the fluid in my 5spd (R type manual) and I asked what weight of oil to put in.

The dude at the counter replied - "Are you working on an eninge or a transmission?" I replied and said that I am working on a manual transmission and I just need the fluid reference that is on their computer for the correct oil weight, so I know what oil get off of the shelf.

He replied-

"You use ATF fluid if you're working on a transmission."

I replied and asked- What kind of warranty does Auto Zone carry for their fluids?

He said- "We don't have a warranty on our fluids except for the standard defective product."

I replied - "So, after I used ATF, which stands for Automatic Transmission Fluid in my MANUAL transmission and completely destroyed my transmission with it, would that qualify as being a defective product?"

He laughed and said - "I've never heared of ATF destroying a transmission. That would be like Oil destroying an engine. Engines need oil and transmissions need ATF."

I replied - "You certainly can destroy an engine by using certain oil. My car calls for five quarts of 15W40 oil, because of it's tolerances and by running a thinner oil on stock parts, it WOULD destroy my engines bearings, because the viscosity/ advertised weight would not be high enough to float the components within the bearings. Again, ATF stands for AUTOMATIC transmission fluid. My car is not an automatic. If you don't believe me, prove me wrong. Go into your computer and get the type of recommended fluid for my transmission."

He said - "It's just ATF."

I replied - "Which kind? Type F or Dexron III? Can you check it on the computer for me?"

He checked and said "Oh, well, I guess it calls for this weight of gear oil. That's strange. I have never seen that before."

I asked - " Have you ever worked on a manual transmission?"

He said - "No."

I said - "What would have happened if I had taken your word for it, not knowing any better and bought either kind of ATF to put into my transmission?"

He said - "Well, you learn something new every day." :icon_conf

Anyways, at any rate, if anyone has any info on how to replace the rack casing seals on the ends of the rack under the boots, PPS or not, I'd love to hear some horror stories/breeze stories about it. I'd also like to know where I can pic up a set of seals.

Thanks again!

Dave
 
bgrieger

bgrieger

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
206
0
0
52
Toronto
Toyota used to sell a rack rebuild kit. I haven't looked in a while but I'd imagine it is still available.
 
MisterTurbineTwister

MisterTurbineTwister

Jerk
Oct 2, 2006
31
0
0
Denver
Maybe it's dealership time. :icon_mad:

Fuck, I hate going to the dealership. :biglaugh:

Well, if I have any sucsess outside of simply replacing the unit with a rebuilt one, I'll try and post some pics.
 
The Reaper

The Reaper

Single, and lovin' it!!
Jan 10, 2006
1,909
0
0
Florida
sorry to thread jack but do the PS racks differ from pre 89 and 89+???

does the cross member make it not work? we have an 89 we are trying to put a PS rack in out of a mixed 89 (89 but had pre 89 Xmember
and motor mounts) well the newer 89 had PPS and we're trying to put in a a non PPS rack...

ok so here's the problem. the steering shaft (going from the PS rack to the Sterring Wheel) does not reach we even trid to take the Steering shaft off of a pre 89 car to mate it with the correct PS rack and it STILL doesn't reach!!

WTF??? the rack is sittting in its position PERFECTLY and it falls short by an inch and a half on the steering shaft!!!

HELP!!!!
 
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