Steering rack boot leak ?? ML-320

[poboy]

Hello all, I am new to the forum.

I have a 98 Ml-320 that has developed a bad fluid leak in one of the boots on the end of the steering rack. When I called the dealer, they said I would have to replace the whole rack ($1,250). I have seen Boot repair kits ($75)on the net, and I am wondering if I can just replace the boots.

How can I tell if there is something broken inside of the rack, or if there is just a seal broken that is letting the fluid freely pour out of the boot? (I have never seen inside the rack, so I have no idea what is in there.)

Other than the whining when my fluid is too low, the steering system sounds normal.

Thanks for any information,

Po

the boots actually aren't your leaks source. the boots are only there to keep dirt and other debris from the ram and seal area the boots are filling with fluid and it is dripping out so replacing the boot would do you no good. what is actually leaking is the seal that the rack slides through. this really isn't something an inexperienced person should tackle. removing the rack in it's self is quite a job. you have to partially dissasemble the front suspension in order to remove the front differential, which has to be removed so you can slide the rack out. it is quite involved. there are rebuilt racks available, so you may search for that and consider that an option.
Ray
mercedessd@cox.net

[roadsession]

Originally Posted by poboy

Hello all, I am new to the forum.

I have a 98 Ml-320 that has developed a bad fluid leak in one of the boots on the end of the steering rack. When I called the dealer, they said I would have to replace the whole rack ($1,250). I have seen Boot repair kits ($75)on the net, and I am wondering if I can just replace the boots.

How can I tell if there is something broken inside of the rack, or if there is just a seal broken that is letting the fluid freely pour out of the boot? (I have never seen inside the rack, so I have no idea what is in there.)

Other than the whining when my fluid is too low, the steering system sounds normal.

Thanks for any information,

Po

I had a whirring noise that came from the power steering system, and one day when I started her up, there was NO power steering at all, and a pool of power steering fluid on the ground.

Opened the hood, and couldn't find any hoses popped off anywhere from the top visual inspection....(I already had the clamps replaced per campaign)

So I had my ML towed to the dealer.
The mechanic let me stand by the car while he diagnosed the leak.

I thought it was baffles, reservoir, etc...

But first he thought it was the power steering hose where it clamps to the power steering pump. But further, more careful diagnosis revealed that it was the steel pipe that connects the power steering pump that feeds the power steering RACK.

He really was great because he didn't just do the first thing that came to mind - he took the time to carefully diagnose and go over with a fine tooth comb to determine the right source.

So what he did was to disconnect the steel pipe from the steering rack (which took enormous strength because of how tight it had been connected) and there were rubber O-rings that had detoriated.

So instead of replacing the entire steering rack which would have been a $2,000 job, he traced it to those little O-rings and replaced them with Neoprene O-rings, put everything back together, and then refilled the fluid, and now everything's great.

WHAT A GUY. I think ownership of these cars/trucks is so dependent on the people working on it....

Always insist that your mechanic do careful diagnosis instead of just swapping out parts!

All in all it was an hour and a half affair...

[poboy]

thanks all,

I was afraid it would be more complicated than just replacing the boot. Guess I am going to have to tow it to the dealer, and have a tech check it out. I just do not trust my dealer anymore, and the next closest one is 130 miles away.


There is a hole in the boot, and that is where the PS fluid is pouring out. I am sure the whole rack will have to be replaced.... That is just how my luck goes.

Thanks again.

Po

[teddavies]

yeah, i had the same problem. the ml's are plagued with the steering clamp coming off- it's pretty much a given...i had to deal with this problem for about 6 months. every day i kept putting more fluid in it, including the stop leak stuff. i had to eventually rebuild the pump and it continued to leak, and just like the above post mentioned it was nothing but a rubber o-ring. the dealer wanted to sell me a new pump, when i just had rebuilt the old one! saved about $1000 using a little intuition and common sense....now it's perfect.

[roadsession]

Originally Posted by poboy

thanks all,

I was afraid it would be more complicated than just replacing the boot. Guess I am going to have to tow it to the dealer, and have a tech check it out. I just do not trust my dealer anymore, and the next closest one is 130 miles away.


There is a hole in the boot, and that is where the PS fluid is pouring out. I am sure the whole rack will have to be replaced.... That is just how my luck goes.

Thanks again.

Po

do some research and try to find an independent mechanic in your area that specializes in MB. BTW: eBay has many mercedes steering racks up for sale. Try doing a search on ebay

[poboy]

ebay or real machanic ..... as opposed to me

Thanks all. Great site. Fastest answers on the net.

Po

[Ron in SC]

Below is a link to the removal and replacement of a steering rack. Not on an ML but on a Porsche. While I've not done this job it seems like it would be somewhat of a pain. I've been told that often when the inner tie rod or whatever it's called, the part covered by that rubber boot begins to leak it's just best to go ahead and repalce the whole rack.

Steering rack removal, though not for an ML