2004 3.0 V6 Steering Rack

[rpsamme]

I have been told by my garage that my steering rack has a leak, and although it is not serious I would need the full rack replacing.   I have been on the citroen service website and the part I need is 4000NE which is being priced around £700.  I have looked on a few part sites and most do not stock the 4000NE but are saying the 4000FA is compatible with my car (which is only around £200).  Just wondering if anyone had any experience with steering rack and would know if the part was compatible?

 

Many thanks

 

Richard

[paul.h]

The 2 racks might be different since your car is listed as having variable power steering whereas the lower cost rack cars are not. On the parts diagrams they also look different at the top of the rack where the column shaft connects - on yours the collar is larger and looks to have an electrical connection. There is this comment against your engine under steering rack data in the Citroen service box procedures:

 

ES9J4 engine : A proportional electrovalve, incorporated in the valve, modulates the steering assistance as a function of the vehicle speed.

 

An alternative to buying another rack is to have yours overhauled - have a look at this topic from the Common Problems post for some info including at the end a place in Wakefield that will repair your rack while you wait:

 

25. New C5 (mark 3/X7) steering rack oil leaks - at least 8 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

 

There are 2 more cases here and one being caused by corrosion of the rack where the alloy oil pipes connect http://www.citroen-o...-leaking-fluid/

 

Have a look at this topic from C5greener for another leak point in the piping near the rack http://www.citroen-o...-steering-leak/

 

This topic from taximan61 for his 2011 C5 (X7) had the leaking rack and pipes repaired in Wakefield. This is the youngest C5 with a leaking rack so it is not just the early ones that leak. http://www.citroen-o...-steering-leak/