W204 2012 C250 Power Steering Noise - Oil Leaking

[sbMB]

Hi,

Good afternoon all,

I have a 2012 C250 1.8 Blue Efficiency Semi Auto, miles 38k. The other day I heard a lot of grinding / clunking noise from my engine each time I turned the steering wheel.
The following day I could see oil streaks on the road and puddles of oil around the driver side wheel.
After jacking the car up I saw major oil stains around the inner wheel arch and along the track rod ends.

Please see attached images.

After looking around the engine bay I couldn't really see any oil around the power steering reservoir.
I think when the car was jacked up on the driver side, oil started dripping on the passenger side as seen in one of the images - but not 100% sure

There seems to be oil inside the rubber boot further inside the shaft, not sure if oil has trickled back into there or could oil be dripping from above

I'll need to take this down to my local garage.
Does this seem like the power steering rack is knackered?
Or could it be some other pipe that has burst?

Any thoughts on what I would be expecting as a repair?

Would anyone know if this car has an electronic or hydraulic steering rack?



Thank you all for looking.

 

[Bellow]

Does this seem like the power steering rack is knackered?

Very possibly - and possibly dangerous to continue using.
Get it to a garage for diagnosis (and if you have to drive there check the fluid level in the reservoir and be prepared to top it up - and lose more oil).
The presence of a reservoir says you have a hydraulic not electric system.

 

[sbMB]

Will do Bellow,

I'm quite sure the fluid level is low plus I'll be purchasing a couple of bottles of oil before I do any trips to the garage.

Thank you.

 

[Gazwould]

 

[sbMB]

Glad you posted that Gazwould, as I've been looking at which oil to get, the other being ATF + PAS Fluid.
I came across another thread about which oil should be used.

Cheers

 

[sbMB]

Had the car looked at a nearby garage this morning, outcome is Steering Rack needs replacing.
Looking at getting a remanufactured steering rack
Car is now booked in - 2 week wait......

 

[sbMB]

Just some more rack pictures with the under engine tray removed -
When I looked at the rubber boots I could not see the retaining fasteners on the outer side and on the lager end I could see a tie wrap - not sure if the tie wrap is supposed to be a metal strap?
Saw fluid flowing out of the n/s rubber boot.

 

[Petrol Pete]

The rubber concertina covers are just that , covers to stop crud getting to the piston shaft area of the steering rack they are not oil seals.

For a steering rack to fail with such low mileage is unusual.

 

[sbMB]

Yes, that's what I thought PP, may be its due to the age of the car.