Blew out the input seal to the rack and pinion?

Tiny
BENDATBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 3.4L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 260,000 MILES
Hey everyone, I have the car listed above that has been giving me problems all year. It all first started when I went to start it one day and it blew out the input seal to the rack and pinion, I replaced the seal and pump thinking maybe the pump was bad. A few months later the seal blew again so I replaced it thinking maybe just a bad seal. I have since replaced it 2 other times and it still keeps randomly blowing the seal out when I start the car. Last week I replaced the rack and pinion, and it didn't even make it the whole week before it blew again. Any ideas or advice would be awesome, thanks!
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 AT 2:38 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
I would replace the steering rack because the selector valve that is worn and bypassing which pushes the seal out, nothing you can do. Here is how the job is done, and you will need to get a wheel alignment once completed. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes.
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Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 AT 7:14 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

I'm not sure which seal you are referring to. I attached an exploded view of the rack and pinion below. Do you see the seal in the picture? If so, what number is it in the legend provided in pic 2?

There is a pressure flow valve. The flow control orifice is a component of the pressure line fitting. A pressure relief valve inside the flow control valve limits the pump pressure. However, that should have been included with the new pump.

Let me know.

Joe

See pics below.
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Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
BENDATBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
It's is #15. Yes, the pressure relief valve was included in the new pump. I removed it last night to see if maybe there was some debris in it but no such luck.
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 5:08 AM
Tiny
BENDATBOY
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  • 4 POSTS
I have already replaced the rack and pinion, mind you it was a used one, but I find it hard to believe that I would have the same exact issue with different one. But I'm not opposed to replacing it again.
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 5:11 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 54,137 POSTS
Okay, that just leaves the return line, did you replace that?
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 8:49 AM
Tiny
BENDATBOY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have not yet, that was my next step, but I wanted other opinions first to see if I was on the right track.
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
There is nothing left to replace, lol let me know how it goes.
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Thursday, October 17th, 2024 AT 9:09 AM

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