Need to replace a rack. Rebuilds avail;able - Maval, Cardone, Pro Parts. Some new ones at VP, Swedish Car Parts, and CVI in Sweden.
Anyone have experience in good brands to choose from.

Thanks

Replacing the piston seals is no easy matter.

The seals will be inaccessible without disassembly of the entire rack. Special tools are needed. Reassembly requires knowledge and experience most of us have not acquired. Any local shop would probably just want to replace the old rack with a rebuilt unit.

But removal and replacement of the entire rack is definitely doable for the DIY mechanic. And despite what may have been suggested to the contrary the quality of rebuilt racks is high.

Take a look at

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/FAQPDFVersions/Steering.pdf

I would direct your attention to the section entitled "Should I Rebuild My Own Rack?"

Since the Brickboard is so wacky of late I will paste the info here. But you should try to access that page for the full story.

The cost of the parts kit and special tooling required to reface bores, extract bushings and other parts, makes it prohibitive for you to consider rebuilding. Buy a rebuilt unit for $300-350 with a guarantee. A good source is Jorgen in Detroit from whom you can buy a rack directly.

Okay. This is years old and prices are higher but FCP Euro offers three different racks. There are other sources and you would be advised to call and discuss the matter with whomever you might choose to buy from. FCP offers a lifetime warranty which, I'll admit, sounds a little bit unbelievable but that has been their policy for awhile now so it is something to consider. You would have to ask them about the particulars.


--
'79 242, '84 DL 2 door, '80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon, '15 XC70 T6 AWD

Here's a rebuild video for the Koyo hydraulic rack like in my 93 940.

https://youtu.be/NRdLsdymNP0

This is for an advanced DIY mechanic who might be interested in saving some loot.

The rebuild took a little over an hour.
He made the special tool out of a piece of 8MM flat steel

He had over a million views, so there's a lot of interest.

Bill

How do you know you need a rack and it's not a dead P/S pump?

If it's leaking you might be able to replace the seals with a rack kit
$25-50

A rack flush is on my to-do list for my 93 940.

If it's a slow leak you can try a flush and add 1 tsp of brake fluid to swell the seals. If the boots have been torn a long time then maybe there's corrosion galore and you need a new rack?

Parts availability , quality and prices are dynamic and you take your best guess
and go with it. I'd question rebuilt racks since maybe some people think replacing the seals and painting it is all they need to do. If the bore of the cylinders is pitted and not cleaned up with honing then they are rubbish.

Someone might know if you might be better off with Synthetic tranny fluid
instead of the OEM PS fluid, 31 years out of date. Maybe the techs at Mobil-1 can answer that question?

Good luck, Bill

How big a job (how many hours) for a mechanic to do the seal kit versus replacing it.
Been using Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic ATF. Recently had car towed and I think they latched onto the tie rods and its now leaking fluid and filling the boot

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

Anyone have experience with AAE brand racks - FCP and IPD sell them - FCP has a lifetime warranty.

How many hours to install one.

Read FCP's lifetime guarantee carefully before getting excited.

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

If the rack leaks after towing because it was hooked onto, i suspect the internal rack is bent and resealing won't help.

I’ll defer to someone else regarding resealing the rack.

If they did indeed latch onto the inner tie rods that might cause the seals to leak.

--
Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

The towing company is going to pay for repairs - just wondering if new seals on an old rack and hours of labour makes sense - or if a new one is more cost/labour effective long term - new rack and seals - have to top it up each day and steering is a bit jerky and pump whines for the first mile or two then dissipates.

Hi Mike,

You take your chances with any rebuilt rack as I explained before.
You need to clean underneath to determine where exactly the steering leak is.
Jumping to conclusions and installing a new rack can be a costly mistake.
It can be rack seals or an issue with the PS pump or plumbing.

The seal kit might be all it needs, and as I said before the prices vary $25-50.
Do your homework and search for replacing steering rack seals. Someone must have done it and written it up. You can find steering rack seal kits on any search engine or Ebay & Amazon.

A small leak might be stopped by removing all of the P/S fluid you can with a turkey baster, refill with new fluid with the addition of 1 tsp brake fluid to swell the seals. That whining you hear might be air in the system. You can try to purge it by turning the steering back and forth to the limits a few times to see if that helps. You can check the tension of the P/S drive belt and note if it is worn or damaged.

Whatever happens, please post back your results. Someone must have written up how to install a seal kit.

Good luck, Bill

OK will do. Taking it in to see where the leak is and what is needed and go from there.

What is the recommended fluid for a 93 Volvo 240 - specs say ATF and have been using MaxLife Synthetic Valvoline - Dex 3 a better option?

How about for the AW70 tranny? - have also used MaxLife for 5 years no issues.

Live in Canada so temps can cold and warm.

Thanks again and will post what the result is.

There are specific PS and tranny fluid recommendations for your car. I can’t remember what they are. I haven’t owned a 240 for a long time. I do remember discussions here on both. Search the Brickboard for more info.
--
Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

Mike,

I remember some folks saying Maval rebuilt racks are pretty good. Check it out for yourself.


Bill,

Synthetic ATF is compatible with 850 and probably other FWD/AWD PS systems. A long time ago, I seem to remember someone saying here that it might not be compatible with RWD cars PS systems. Someone else might know for sure???

Jim
--
Will I buy another Volvo??? We'll see....

Have had the car 5 years and using Valvoline Maxlife synthetic and Type F in my 1980 245 - any recommendations?
I see there is a seal kit available - easy job for a mechanic or time consuming?

Volvo originally called for ATF Type A in your power steering. To quote: "All iterations of Dexron B, Dexron II and Dexron III ATF products are backward compatible with Type A fluids. Newer General Motors specs such as DEXRON VI, DEXRON HP and DEXRON ULV are NOT backward compatible with applications requiring a Type A ATF"

When topping up an old power steering system, I add 50/50 power steering lubricant to help keep the seals puckered. Almost any seal conditioner, even brake fluid, will probably work okay. Just once you start needing seal conditioner, your seals are on borrowed time.

| I see there is a seal kit available

Yes, Rockauto.com

| easy job for a mechanic or time consuming?

Yes, both, especially time.

Maybe do a bit more online research and check out some YouTube videos to see what you're up against. If the rack is in otherwise good shape, new seals can put you right for a long time and knowing it was your good rack, not someone else's with unknown wear and tear. People often say rebuilt racks are a crap shoot, up to half can soon fail, and that's been my limited experience having to immediately replace a rebuild under warranty much to the chagrin of my local indie who had to replace it. Even though it didn't leak, it never felt right.
--
Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Any comments on nthis unit from Sweedish Car Parts in Chicago

Steering rack assembly for volvo 240 260 1975-1993 CAM GEAR 1329694, 3091, 5003606, 5003666-4, 7832 955 106
PART NUMBER: 3516941

Its new. Thanks for all the helpful details

Mike

I think that should be an exact replacement. There were three Cam Gear power racks that Volvo used over the years and that resembles the last of the three. So that should be what is on your '93 as OE.

I would communicate with the vendor to make sure.


--
'79 242, '84 DL 2 door, '80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon, '15 XC70 T6 AWD