Joined: Apr 2022

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: East Coast USA

W210 2000 E320 3.2L V6 Sedan RWD

Just wanted to post this for anyone that runs into this. I'm probably one of the few with this power steering fluid leak location but surely I won't be the last. About a year ago I started noticing I was losing power steering fluid. Obviously there are the more common failures such as the power steering reservoir and lines. I however had the only leak of its kind I think as far as the research I did. Virtually no information online that I could find anywhere. I discovered the leak was coming from the rack and pinion itself, but from 1 of 3 small holes up by the stalk that meets the linkage which I'll explain. Initially, I thought I had narrowed it down to the steel lines on the steering rack itself, that have 2 large inverted Torx banjo bolts. I removed the bolts with the proper E rated inverted Torx ( sorry forgot the size ) and I replaced the 2 o rings on both sides of the banjo. Sure of myself that I had fixed it, I bolted it back up to torque specs and started the car. There was some minimal residue again so I cleaned it off thoroughly but even after that, I kept noticing fluid on the ground and it appeared to be coming by the same spot though I eventually realized it was not. What it turned out to be, is up where the shaft of the steering rack meets the steering linkage, there's three 5/16" holes. Based on photos of the steering rack these are not present on all the racks available for the W210 E320. Anyway there were 3 holes with brass and/or copper inserts in each of them with a circular clip and a metal finger that extends to the middle of the inserts. ( See silver clip on photos ) That's where my leak was. It was slow but just quick enough that it would trickle down the round banjo line end by the time I got back under the car. Annoyed I set my phone to record while I was turning the steering wheel and I realized this hole with the brass insert was leaking and it would drip down to give the illusion is was coming from the banjo fitting. I removed the clip from the hole that was leaking. The fittings are held in extremely tightly by the double o rings. Which you'll see I removed from the insert in the photo so I could replace the o rings obviously. What I did was, with the car running and clip removed, I turned the steering wheel all the way to the right to where it stops and then gave it 4 or 5 medium turns to pressurize the system and it blew the insert right out. Do this at your own risk I'm just telling you what worked for me. You'll see a ton of fluid on the floor if it shot out so turn off the car promptly so you don't wear out your pump. I went online and ordered a multi Viton rated o ring kit. These are made for hydraulic system pressures and fluid. I replaced them. Stuck the insert in the slot, and used a Philips head screw driver that fit snugly in the center opening of the insert and tapped it down with a hammer lightly so not to cut the o rings. Then reinstalled the clip. Next I refilled the system with CH11 and now the leak is gone. I went to the stops and held it 10 seconds and still no leaks so I know I got it. Just letting everyone know because the cheapest rebuilt rack is 300 bucks plus tax. This was on a W210 2001 E320 RWD Sedan 3.2L With Servotronic/ Without 4Matic. Sorry I don't have the o ring sizes I tried various ones until I found ones I liked. I used ones that were the slightest bit thicker than what came off. They may have been the same as what the original size was but hard to say since the ones I removed were hard as a rock and brittle. I only replaced the o rings on the one that was leaking. This was the simplest steering rack I've ever removed in my career. Literally took 15 mins taking my sweet *** time. Good luck!

If you think you can reinstall the insert without removing the rack be my guest. I tried every trick I could think of to lube the o rings but nothing worked. The hammer and screwdriver worked in 5 seconds. Was worth the time to remove it. If it was a real s.o.b. to remove I might of kept trying to do it with it in the car. To each his own. Best of luck again!



The valve/insert removed and o rings removed. There is a tiny screen in the middle of the insert

between the grooves the o rings sit it. Be mindful there's 2 different size o rings.

The valve/insert as it appears in the rack and pinion steering assembly

This is what it looked like with residual fluid in it until I cleaned some off, but it will trickle down the body to the brass colored metal lines that are bolted the length of the metal body of the rack.
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