W204 C63 Steering rack leak

[SaRO1321]

Hi everyone.

RHD 2013 C63 Coupe with less than 50K miles on the clock.

I lost power steering and then found out the hydraulic fluid reservoir to be empty. Took it to Mercedes and I've been told that the power steering rack is cracked so the 'power steering rack and lines' need replacing. The quote from Mercedes is absolutely ridiculous. I usually have the car serviced and mot'd at a trusted place, and I'm thinking of taking it there if I can source the parts myself. I see them online but just to be on safe side, it would be great if you guys can recommend the part that I need so I know I've got the right one. Any other advice is much appreciated.

thanks.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I wonder how it cracked ? have you any photos of the actual crack ? Has it been hit by something or has it cracked on a 'fault line' in the casting because of poor quality ? Or is it just another misdiagnosis from MB and is in fact just a loose bolt ? (stranger things have happened) Personally I would not take it to an MB dealership for something as basic as a steering rack replacement.

But I would take it somewhere for a second opinion - actually I wouldn't (me personally) I would get under there and find the fault myself, but you know what I mean.

Get a second opinion and use your VIN number , or the part number printed on the damaged unit to order parts . Not sure about your AMG but my 2006 C55 AMG has a completely different ratio in the steering rack to a 'bog standard' S203 C class , but looks the same on the outside.

In fact a two search minutes on autodoc shows a bunch of different racks for your car starting at less than £600 all the way up to £2K .

Second opinion needed.

 

[SaRO1321]

I wonder how it cracked ? have you any photos of the actual crack ? Has it been hit by something or has it cracked on a 'fault line' in the casting because of poor quality ? Or is it just another misdiagnosis from MB and is in fact just a loose bolt ? (stranger things have happened) Personally I would not take it to an MB dealership for something as basic as a steering rack replacement.

But I would take it somewhere for a second opinion - actually I wouldn't (me personally) I would get under there and find the fault myself, but you know what I mean.

Get a second opinion and use your VIN number , or the part number printed on the damaged unit to order parts . Not sure about your AMG but my 2006 C55 AMG has a completely different ratio in the steering rack to a 'bog standard' S203 C class , but looks the same on the outside.

In fact a two search minutes on autodoc shows a bunch of different racks for your car starting at less than £600 all the way up to £2K .

Second opinion needed.

Hello mate,

I was out for a normal smooth drive on the motorway. 100m from home, I pulled into the petrol station to refuel. After then trying to reverse out, the power steering failed. I definitely didn't hit anything and I haven't taken the car on any demanding roads for anything to hit it. Plus I'm quite attentive so even if something did hit it, I'd like to think I'd have noticed.

They've sent the video of diagnoses but just stating that there is a crack in the rack so the rack and lines need replacing. Given the price quoted for the parts, Labour etc, I'll most definitely be taking it to the gentleman who usually services the vehicle.

regarding this....

Get a second opinion and use your VIN number , or the part number printed on the damaged unit to order parts . Not sure about your AMG but my 2006 C55 AMG has a completely different ratio in the steering rack to a 'bog standard' S203 C class , but looks the same on the outside.

I provided the VIN to one online store for them to come back to me. Even when I put in 'w204 c63 amg power steering rack', it brings up a whole variety of racks including diesel mercs, and hence checking.

thanks

 

[Petrol Pete]

As I said I would have the cover off the bottom of the engine and be in there looking for the P/N on the rack that is in the car ...once I was sure it was the actual rack that was cracked.

The fluid (only about one litre) might have been dripping out unnoticed for a while then once low enough to starve the pump the steering would go heavy with no 'big pool' of oil visible under the car.

Keep us informed how you get on . I am sure some members will give you a steer (see what I did there ) in the right direction regarding which manufacturer to use when buying new parts.

 

[SaRO1321]

There was quite a bit of hydraulic fluid on the forecourt, but not like a massive amount. Mercedes sent the health check video and the bottom covers were covered in the fluid - you might well be right about it leaking over time. Saying that, I'm quite attentive and the car is usually parked in the same place. I haven't noticed any leaks on the drive. that's unless it leaks when driven.

'steer (see what I did there)....very good

Thank you. I've booked it with the guys I usually have the car serviced with though I have to wait until 24th May as they're quite busy. This is the first issue I've ever had so naturally I have been super stressed.

 

[Petrol Pete]

It might not leak until under pressure and the aero cover underneath the engine might have caught drips and sent them to the rear of the car when driving . P/S is under most strain when the car is being driven very slowly with the steering being worked hard, parking foe example . So the forecourt would be an ideal place to spot this.

Anyway, you are moving in the right direction to get it sorted. With just 50K on the clock I would not expect to see such a fault so it will be interesting to see what transpires going forward.

 

[SaRO1321]

It might not leak until under pressure and the aero cover underneath the engine might have caught drips and sent them to the rear of the car when driving . P/S is under most strain when the car is being driven very slowly with the steering being worked hard, parking foe example . So the forecourt would be an ideal place to spot this.

Anyway, you are moving in the right direction to get it sorted. With just 50K on the clock I would not expect to see such a fault so it will be interesting to see what transpires going forward.

So I have to admit that what you're saying probably puts me at fault. We have a rather narrow car park and whenever I come home, I tend to obviously drive the car slowly but errr go thru the slow process of reversing the car into the parking space. Maybe all of those parking jobs have taken their toll.

Yes, it has surprised me too. I keep the car in good nick, serviced on time etc. Just one of those weeks....also dealing with a leak into my flat from flat upstairs as a result of a blocked pipe. Ended up damaging the wall paint which is now needing to be sorted. such is life, matey.

 

[ALFAitalia]

If the rack itself is cracked, why are Mercedes saying that you will need new lines too?.....unl;ess they are badly coroded I cant see why you would need them.

 

[SaRO1321]

If the rack itself is cracked, why are Mercedes saying that you will need new lines too?.....unl;ess they are badly coroded I cant see why you would need them.

That's why I'm suspicious, and will take it to the guys who usually service it for me. Judging where I personally think the leak comes from and even the RAC road assistant engineer, he felt that it was the lines from the hydraulic fluid reservoir instead of the power steering rack itself.

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP . you are not at fault for a 10 year old 50K mile steering rack 'splitting' , unless it has been hit by something. Keep an open mind until someone you can trust take a CLOSE look at it.

 

[SaRO1321]

OP . you are not at fault for a 10 year old 50K mile steering rack 'splitting' , unless it has been hit by something. Keep an open mind until someone you can trust take a CLOSE look at it.

Hello mate,

Just to update you. I towed the car to my trusted engineer who usually services and mot's the car. Turns out that the leak wasn't even from the steering rack. Just one of the pipes leading down from the reservoir happened to be cracked. They ordered the parts from Mercedes (294 pounds) and then a further 17.99 for the hydraulic fluid. Altogether with labour, I paid £532. Mercedes wanted to replace a perfectly fine steering rack and lines, and charge me nearly £5K....

 

[Petrol Pete]

Hello mate,

Just to update you. I towed the car to my trusted engineer who usually services and mot's the car. Turns out that the leak wasn't even from the steering rack. Just one of the pipes leading down from the reservoir happened to be cracked. They ordered the parts from Mercedes (294 pounds) and then a further 17.99 for the hydraulic fluid. Altogether with labour, I paid £532. Mercedes wanted to replace a perfectly fine steering rack and lines, and charge me nearly £5K....

Great result. ALWAYS worth getting a second (and 3rd) opinion