My 996 was leaking power steering fluid all over the place, so I took it to the local dealer who informed me that not only did I need a power steering pump replacement (totally believable given how much fluid was being leaked), but that I needed a power steering rack replacement as the rack was heavily leaking which probably contributed to the pump failure. I asked about rebuilding the rack to fix the leak only to be told that the rack needs to be replaced. The dealer queried Porsche in Germany about getting a replacement rack only to get no reply, so the dealer found the original equipment supplier who is sending the replacement rack. This whole process has taken almost three weeks, and I'm really not happy.

Has anyone else had to deal with this situation?

 

Only indirectly, thank goodness.

The word I get is a high pressure relief valve can fail and route fluid at too high a pressure to the rack. Fluid is forced out of the seals. The fluid is usually caught by the dust boots. (I was there one day when tech had a bad rack on the bench and removed a dust boot. It issued a wet "pop" as he pried it off the rack.)

The owner only knows something's amiss when the power steering system gets noisy and he checks the power steering fluid level and finds it low. Even if he adds fluid the techs tell me this is too late.

The pump, the rack and the line with the high pressure relief valve all have to be replaced.

It is possible the rack might be rebuildable. Really I think all that is wrong is the seals are shot.

You might check the ads in Panorama or Excellence to see if anyone advertises Porsche steering rack repair/rebuild.

Be sure the high pressure relief valve is ok when you reassemble the system with the new (or rebuilt) rack. Not sure how to do this. I think the techs just replace it if there is any question.

 

Thanks for the info, Macaster. I'll get back to you later.

 

In my pile of receipts I have read the previous owner had the steering rack sent off to be refurbished so my guess would be that it's possible. What about a second hand part? Might be more economical but less reliable for a long term solution.