Active steering fluid leaking
06-29-2014, 06:29 PM
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My Ride: 2010 535i M Sport
Active steering fluid leaking
Hey all,
I've been having active steering fluid leaking on my e60 2010 535i for a couple of weeks now and finally got around to checking it.
About two weeks ago I notice the warning light activated indicating low steering fluid. The reservoir was completely empty so I topped it off and warning light was gone.
Now, two weeks later, the warning light came on again and the reservoir was completely empty. I didn't see any leaks on the garage floor, so I didn't pay attention, but actually the fluid was absorbed by the shields underneath.
From what I can see, the leak is coming from the top of the steering rack joint (circled in red on the reference diagrams).
The upside is that the leak isn't coming from anywhere else, i.e. boots, hoses, reservoir, pump, just at this one spot.
Is this possible to fix without having to replace the entire steering rack?
More pictures https://www.dropbox.com/sh/45ef8bcwd...N-cmuuU4U_RnTa
I've been having active steering fluid leaking on my e60 2010 535i for a couple of weeks now and finally got around to checking it.
About two weeks ago I notice the warning light activated indicating low steering fluid. The reservoir was completely empty so I topped it off and warning light was gone.
Now, two weeks later, the warning light came on again and the reservoir was completely empty. I didn't see any leaks on the garage floor, so I didn't pay attention, but actually the fluid was absorbed by the shields underneath.
From what I can see, the leak is coming from the top of the steering rack joint (circled in red on the reference diagrams).
The upside is that the leak isn't coming from anywhere else, i.e. boots, hoses, reservoir, pump, just at this one spot.
Is this possible to fix without having to replace the entire steering rack?
More pictures https://www.dropbox.com/sh/45ef8bcwd...N-cmuuU4U_RnTa
Last edited by cblrhan; 06-29-2014 at 08:22 PM.
06-30-2014, 02:44 PM
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Simple leaks can definitely be repaired, but probably not by you because the parts and assembly/test procedures are hard to obtain.
If you go to the dealer their only answer is to replace the unit with a rebuilt one. ZF has a remanufacturing center in the US (Illinois I think) that takes in cores and rebuilds them and sell them to dealers. Last I was quote I remember around $4K, part only. Labor extra.
I used a body shop in Scottsdale and they had a local outfit in Phoenix that rebuilt and tested ZF racks when mine was throwing errors after I ran over road debris. Their price was like $350-$500 to overhaul the part. My rack was removed, tested, nothing found wrong, reinstalled no charge and has worked perfectly since (two years).
You may want to call higher end body shops in your area. I would be very surprised if they don't know of a local place that rebuilds ZF racks reasonably as they are commonly damaged in front end wrecks. And you may find a body shop where business is slow that will pull the rack, ship it out for repair and reinstall it for a good price.
If you go to the dealer their only answer is to replace the unit with a rebuilt one. ZF has a remanufacturing center in the US (Illinois I think) that takes in cores and rebuilds them and sell them to dealers. Last I was quote I remember around $4K, part only. Labor extra.
I used a body shop in Scottsdale and they had a local outfit in Phoenix that rebuilt and tested ZF racks when mine was throwing errors after I ran over road debris. Their price was like $350-$500 to overhaul the part. My rack was removed, tested, nothing found wrong, reinstalled no charge and has worked perfectly since (two years).
You may want to call higher end body shops in your area. I would be very surprised if they don't know of a local place that rebuilds ZF racks reasonably as they are commonly damaged in front end wrecks. And you may find a body shop where business is slow that will pull the rack, ship it out for repair and reinstall it for a good price.
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