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New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=89598		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  JimmyP [ Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:59 am ]
Post subject:  New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
Month and a half ago the steering on my 2005 Liberty CRD started to 'clunk'. Traced it to the passenger side rack and pinion inside the bellows the shaft would gyrate with a clunk as the steering was turned left to right. I decided to order and install a remanufactured rack and pinion. Did the timing belt, water pump and various idlers, thermostat, and tensioners while I had the car apart as I just recently hit 105k.

I installed it using the method discussed in the forums where you slide the rack out (and then back into) the passenger wheel well. I had to remove the two hard hydraulic lines from the rack and then re-attach them after it was installed in order to slide the new one in. I wrapped tape around the open holes during installation to minimize crud.

I manually flushed a bunch of ATF-4 through the system before connecting the flexible hydraulics lines to the rack.

I then filled it with ATF-4 and bled the system by turning the steering side to side until I didn't get anymore air out (I later learned that air can be trapped and a vacuum can help get it out).

I drove the Jeep most days for the next two weeks and checked the fluid level each time I got home. It didn't appear to be using any fluid and I didn't notice any foaming at all. Life was good.

A month after the repair, I was turning into our drive and I heard the Power steering pump making a racket. I checked the power steering fluid container and it was empty. There hadn't been a drop of fluid found anywhere, so I was completely baffled as to where it could have gone. I refilled the reservoir. Added more. Added more. BOOM - The driver side bellows blew out with ATF drenching the drive. Solved the mystery of where the leaking ATF went at least :oops:

Chatted with the parts supplier and they traded out the part for a new one. I've installed it the same as before with the exception that I borrowed a Power Steering/Brake bleeding kit and followed the procedure for bleeding that came with the rack. I then left the vacuum on the power steering reservoir for 5 minutes and didn't see a drop in pressure.

- Before I test drive it, is there something that could be wrong in the system that caused the new and possibly original racks to fail so soon?
- If so, is there a way I can test for it before I blow out another rack?
Author:  vwroad87 [ Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
JimmyP wrote:
Month and a half ago the steering on my 2005 Liberty CRD started to 'clunk'. Traced it to the passenger side rack and pinion inside the bellows the shaft would gyrate with a clunk as the steering was turned left to right. I decided to order and install a remanufactured rack and pinion. Did the timing belt, water pump and various idlers, thermostat, and tensioners while I had the car apart as I just recently hit 105k.

I installed it using the method discussed in the forums where you slide the rack out (and then back into) the passenger wheel well. I had to remove the two hard hydraulic lines from the rack and then re-attach them after it was installed in order to slide the new one in. I wrapped tape around the open holes during installation to minimize crud.

I manually flushed a bunch of ATF-4 through the system before connecting the flexible hydraulics lines to the rack.

I then filled it with ATF-4 and bled the system by turning the steering side to side until I didn't get anymore air out (I later learned that air can be trapped and a vacuum can help get it out).

I drove the Jeep most days for the next two weeks and checked the fluid level each time I got home. It didn't appear to be using any fluid and I didn't notice any foaming at all. Life was good.

A month after the repair, I was turning into our drive and I heard the Power steering pump making a racket. I checked the power steering fluid container and it was empty. There hadn't been a drop of fluid found anywhere, so I was completely baffled as to where it could have gone. I refilled the reservoir. Added more. Added more. BOOM - The driver side bellows blew out with ATF drenching the drive. Solved the mystery of where the leaking ATF went at least :oops:

Chatted with the parts supplier and they traded out the part for a new one. I've installed it the same as before with the exception that I borrowed a Power Steering/Brake bleeding kit and followed the procedure for bleeding that came with the rack. I then left the vacuum on the power steering reservoir for 5 minutes and didn't see a drop in pressure.

- Before I test drive it, is there something that could be wrong in the system that caused the new and possibly original racks to fail so soon?
- If so, is there a way I can test for it before I blow out another rack?


Well, a blocked return line could cause an issue but most likely that was a rebuild failure. Since the provider swapped out the part with no hassle that rings a bell. Often some cores are just barley rebuildable, sometimes they fail. High pressure hydraulics, enought said. Bummer you have to do the job twice, maybe the parts provider could send you a coffee gift cert.
Author:  JimmyP [ Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
I'll keep my fingers crossed :)
Author:  My66dodge [ Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
As a pro I can tell to that most of the reman racks at the parts houses are A1 Cardone and they are crap, I can confirm many failures, I flat refuse to use anything Cardone. If you want a good one try to get a Maval or other top shelf brand
Author:  JimmyP [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 2:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
If I have another failure on the newest one, I'll definitely heed your advice. Thanks for the info My66dodge.
Author:  WWDiesel [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: New Rack and Pinion failure after 30 days
According to Maval's website,
for your 2005
Rack & Pinion Steering Units
Jeep Liberty 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 PN: 95326M

2006-2007 use a different steering rack.
Jeep Liberty 2006, 2007 PN: 95393M

OEM PN's:
05 -- 52128517AE
06 -- 52109970AA
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