C5 X7 Steering Heavy After Rack Replacement

[ststech]

hi

had a leaking rack on my 2009 c5 x7 citroen wanted £1100 for rack plus fitting i got a rack from euro car parts for £255 citroen fitted it cost £523

 

car has stopped leaking now but the steering is heavier than before just feels heavy though it works 

but for example if you turn wheel either way while driving and let go it stays there so you have to be in control of it at all times 

not sure if its just because its new and needs wearing in or if there is some other issue or a faulty rack 

 

i did read that the steering is supposed to be speed sensitive anyone have any ideas 

 

as i when looking up c5 racks some were listed with and without speed sensor 

 

citroen didnt mention anything or say it was wrong rack and when i ordered it i quoted the citroen part numbers 

 

so im a bit confused 

 

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

By buying the parts yourself it has given you a problem of liability - Citroen will only be responsible for the labour but eurocarparts are responsible for the rack but not its fitting. Each will say the fault is not their problem and if the rack needs changing due to a fault, then the labour will need paying again.

 

Is the rack a reconditioned one - if so, maybe it has not been set up correctly so it is stiff to turn.

 

First though I would go back to Citroen and see what they say. Also I am not sure which engine you have but as an example for the 2.0 hdi, Citroen list 4 different racks so it is worth confirming the one you got is correct.

[Parkesie]

Can you turn the wheel when the car is stationary? As in is the power assist working? Just trying to get an idea of how heavy the steering is if its just a bit heavier than before could be as simple as tracking is now different to before.

The speed sensor if it had one sits on a small peg on the input of the rack youd of had to unplug it if you had one.

Possible installation faults

The pipes should only fit on one way if my memory serves me so that rules out plumbing problems.

Correct fluid been used?

Between the rack and subframe on mine were some poor quality washers,if these have been fitted to one side and not the other that could possibly make the rack stiff but unlikely in my eyes.

[ststech]

2l hdi 138 exclusive and the steering cant be turned with engine off as usual with pas it just doesnt feel as light as it did prior to rack replacement

as they took my old rack back i assume its a recon rack 

[coastline taxis]

get citroen the check the universal joint at the bottom of the steering colum that conect,s to the rack. When these start to sieze up you get the symptoms of the steering wheel not centralising itself

[paul.h]

Oil leaks from the C5 X7 steering rack are a common problem and are included in the C5 Technical section Common Problems pinned topic as follows:

25. New C5 (mark 3/X7) steering rack oil leaks - at least 5 cases so far.

We have 2 members jefflad and Howiec with steering rack leaks that are proving difficult to fix. Where the supply and return pipes join the rack, the seals are leaking fluid. It seems Citroen want to replace the pipes to fix this and that just replacing the O-ring seals does not work. Citroen also do not sell the seals separately. An additional 2 members, Parkesie and johnfing, have found a leak from the steering column shaft input seal on top of the steering rack, which initially was thought to be the pipe seals. This seal also is not available so replacement racks have been fitted. The column shaft has badly rusted so may be the cause of the leak - applying grease could possibly prevent this. See http://www.citroen-o...uid/#entry75684 . See also this topic for info on replacing the rack

http://www.citroen-o...ent/#entry81594