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I have a 2001 MDX with a leak from the driver side rack and pinion between the rack and the housing. I didn't find much on the internet for this specific model but from videos of other vehicles it appears there are just o-ring(s) of some kind that need replacing.
2001 MDX Rack and Pinion
Is this as simple as replacing the "cylinder end seal" and the "backup ring" (driver side) as displaying in the above schematic? Has anyone replaced these? Any special tools?
This is a very labor-intensive job, even for a shop with access to tools and a lift. The first step is to remove the steering rack from the car. To do this, you need to lower the front subframe. Drain the power steering fluid, disconnect the hoses, tie rods, and steering column. After removing the steering rack, it is better to rebuild the entire rack or install a new / rebuilt one, because the likelihood of a repeat leak is very high if everything is not done correctly. You won't want to remove the subframe twice, trust me. After this, it is necessary to perform a wheel alignment.
DundukovEM - Thank you for responding. Follow up: Do I need to remove the entire rack to replace "cylinder end seal" and the "backup ring" or is there more to fixing the leak than simply relacing the "cylinder end seal" and the "backup ring"?
The cylinder end seal cannot be replaced in place. According to the service manual, it needs to be pushed inside out using a long set of OEM drivers and a press. Before doing this, it is necessary to remove all internal parts of the steering rack.
Sorry, but your best bet is to replace the steering rack with a remanufactured one or a new one. And get a shop warranty on parts and labor for a couple of years in case of manufacturing defects and possible leaks. Repeated replacement is just as painful as the first one.
The last update to closed this threat out. The good news is, the leak is gone. The bad news is I don't know exactly what solved it. I did put stop leak in the power steering fluid but then I also dug deeper into all the oil leaks. I determined the valve covers, maybe the EGR, driver side CV axle seal, and maybe the PVC valve were leaking oil. I replaced all those gaskets/seals and there is no more oil on the driver side rack boot. Sorry its not conclusive but its done.
10-21-2023, 05:52 PM
