Hey guys, can you help me diagnose this?
The car steering started making noises and I realised the fluid was very low. Topped it up and then found a leak on the steering rack. Is the rack surely gone? Is it worth using one of those leak stop liquids? And the noise, does it come form the rack or the pump?

The noise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97OqECoh_2o

The leak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2fUFyU3R_E

I think the noise came from steering belt. When you turn steering until the end, the fluid pressure rises rapidly in the pump thus making the pump's pulley harder to turn. This creates noise from the belt when it start slipping. There's pressure bypass valve in the pump to divert pressure away but if valve is stuck from old (dirty) steering fluid then the pressure build-up still happens. Try replacing (renew) your steering fluid and tighten the belt a bit.

Yes looks like the rack is leaking. Some of us has spent years using our car with leaking rack, adding steering fluid now and then. Using fully synthetic fluid may help to stop the leak eg. Mobil 1 ATF, Redline Steering Fluid or you could start to look for any mechanic that could repair steering leak. If you have Volvo spare part shop in your town you might be lucky to find NOS rack. I found one NOS rack (TRW type) at discounted price, so it ended my saga of topping up fluids.

Amarin

I have actually uploaded the wrong video of the noise. Because there is a second noise that I wanted help with, that you cannot hear in the video I pasted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXT6OXAlsmU
What causes this sound? It seems to happen, not sure if exclusively, when you have it fully turned left and you start turning right. (same side as the leak)

I can't change the rack right now, not this month. I think the leak is small enough that it can wait a couple months, I hope so at least. WOuld a stop leak product help delay the inevitable? I've seen scotty kilmer on youtube recommend the use of seafoam for this same issue.

Yes I could hear the sound when you start turning steering to right (from fully left). It sounded almost like a low frequency horn. So I think its associated with air - it could be some trapped air in steering fluid. After you topped up the fluid you have to let any air out from steering system. Leave the steering fluid reservoir cap open, start to turn steering fully right and left many times with engine running. Check fluid level again and top-up if needed. Repeat the process. Put back the reservoir cap and drive the car - sometimes road vibrations help to dislodge trapped air.

Amarin.

Lucas Brand (power steering conditioner). Pump your power steering reservoir empty and add one bottle of (Lucas). Then top off the fluid. Be patient as the thick red liquid is slow pouring. You'll have to drive it awhile for air bubble take time to expell.

Thanks. Someone on the volvo uk forum also gave me the same opinion.
I've been looking at parts online, see if I can find a replacement. First I was worried that I didn't know the type of steering rack, since there are several. But now I'm just worried that I can't find a single one, regardless of the type, in europe. I'm not sure I can rebuild the rack myself. Not sure how I'm gonna proceed if this gets worse all of a sudden.

I used some stop leak before - STP Stop Leak. It worked for a few months then leaked again.
I replaced fluid with new. It stopped leaking for few months then leaked again.
I used synthetic fluid before. It worked well (in my case) but steering becomes heavier than normal. Didn't like it so back to using normal fluid. And continued leaking.
I didn't go for rebuild because that depends on the quality of parts used, amount of rack wear & expertise of rebuilder.
My old rack (Odo: about 900,000 km) not only leaked fluid but have some play between rack & pinion gear. This because I neglected applying steering grease to rack. The steering fluid doesn't lubricate the rack/pinion.
I always check fluid level once per week.
So when I found a NOS rack I bought it immediately! (this after about 10 years of leaking)

As long as fluid level is maintained ok, you can continue using the car no problem. Sudden loss of power steering is usually due to leaking high pressure steering hose, NOT from leaking rack.

Amarin

I don't think I'll be able to find an NOS here. But I did find some used on a local website here in Spain. Any idea how I should confirm if the types match? My car is from 1997 so it doesn't even appear on most parts catalogs websites, since the last year in the USA was 1995. I'm having trouble finding out which one fits my car. I can't even understand the difference to be honest. TRW, CAM, ZF. It's confusing.
Do you know if these racks are the same for 740s and 960s? Or at least the same part for all 940s? I'm refering to the part itself, not the type (trw, cam, etc). Do all 940 use the same part of several different types? Or is the part itself completely different?
Cause parts for 960s and 740s are easier to find. Even for other 940s. But for late models like mine are harder to find.

If your car was 1997 model then the product plate (metal card on near right headlight as you have left-sided steering) doesn't show what type of steering rack you have.

From your leaking youtube video I can confirm that yours is NOT ZF. Your steering boot has narrow end at the tie rod. So yours is either KOYO or CAM/TRW.

With no further clue, the only way is to go under the car and look for more info. Raise the car on two front jacks (safety first!) so that the front tyres are off the ground. Or go to mechanic shop to use the car hoist for a while. Turn steering fully right and left (with engine off) to extend the rack. Measure the length of the boots. CAM/TRW rack has equal length of steering boots. KOYO has one long and one short. Try to find parts number on the rack too.

I think its the same CAM/TRW or KOYO part on 960, 940 and 740 models. So parts are interchangeable between 960/940/740.

Try finding NOS part in other town too. There must be some Volvo parts shop in cities of Europe.


Amarin.

Ok, so I found this website. Great catalog of parts. It says it's can be ZF or TRW. Ihe part is compatible with second generation 940s and 960s (1994-1998).
It says all parts number that are compatible. Don't know if this website is wellknown, but I think it is great.
https://www.sercore.com/archivos/pub/pdf/Power%20steering%20catalogue.pdf

That's a catalog of racks only, but you can also seacrh for a specific model of a car instead.

You are right, it is not on the plate :(
Yesterday when I filmed the leak i also filmed the other boot, because it also seemed leaky. They look the same qhen the steering is straight. Unfortunately on the video in which i filmed the entire less leaky boot, i don't show the leaky one completely, so it's hard to confirm. But if there is a big difference, then it must be CAM, because comparing the 2 videos I don't see a sizeable distinction.

Take your time to find the right steering part. Plan your repair carefully. I have lived with leaking steering rack for about 10 years before finding NOS part. While my rack was leaking, power steering still feel the same, car engine still going strong and braking still excellent. The leaked steering oil won't go to your brakes or tyres.

In short, continue to enjoy the car (you have a fast car!), check fluid level regularly and do repair when parts available!

Good luck,
Amarin.