ML320 - Rack and Pinion Leak!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
W163 - ML320 - 1999
ML320 - Rack and Pinion Leak!
Hello!
I have had a power steering leak for some time now and its only recently become a major concern since I now have to refill every week or so. I noticed the leak was not coming from any hoses or even the pump but rather from a little cylinder like portion of the rack and pinion. It seems to have a star head, therefore I was wondering if somebody knew whether or not those can be removed and if there is some washer or seal of sorts that may have failed (probably due to the long life of the vehicle - currently sitting at around 215k miles) or if there is any other way to repair it easily. I am not an auto mechanic but I do have some technical know-how of the system itself. I've attached some pictures depicting the location of the leak, not my actual pictures but just some I found online of the same location.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 690
Likes: 33
From: Bay area - California
2000 ML320 2006 SLK 350
There are rebuild shops out there....you can find some if you google online....I had to get mine done at around 150,000 miles or so....
Cost for a rebuilt rack was about $600 (including shipping and core return credit)...cost another $350 in labor to have it installed...and $100 in alignment.
I have since put 85,000 miles on the rebuilt rack....no leak or problem whatsoever.
A properly rebuilt rack will have all rubber seals replaced with new ones on the entire rack....that would be the best way to do this...you will then have peace of mind for at least 10 years.....replacing just the seal that leaks now.....likely to give you headaches when other seals on the rack leak down the road.
Rubber seals on various components on this car will wear out and leak after 15 years/150,000 miles...you have to take it as it comes.
Cost for a rebuilt rack was about $600 (including shipping and core return credit)...cost another $350 in labor to have it installed...and $100 in alignment.
I have since put 85,000 miles on the rebuilt rack....no leak or problem whatsoever.
A properly rebuilt rack will have all rubber seals replaced with new ones on the entire rack....that would be the best way to do this...you will then have peace of mind for at least 10 years.....replacing just the seal that leaks now.....likely to give you headaches when other seals on the rack leak down the road.
Rubber seals on various components on this car will wear out and leak after 15 years/150,000 miles...you have to take it as it comes.
Last edited by mihir_d; Jul 26, 2019 at 01:43 PM.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
99 ml320
Gasket
Hello!
I have had a power steering leak for some time now and its only recently become a major concern since I now have to refill every week or so. I noticed the leak was not coming from any hoses or even the pump but rather from a little cylinder like portion of the rack and pinion. It seems to have a star head, therefore I was wondering if somebody knew whether or not those can be removed and if there is some washer or seal of sorts that may have failed (probably due to the long life of the vehicle - currently sitting at around 215k miles) or if there is any other way to repair it easily. I am not an auto mechanic but I do have some technical know-how of the system itself. I've attached some pictures depicting the location of the leak, not my actual pictures but just some I found online of the same location.
