Urgent advice needed pls - Power Steering Pipe

[Adams_CR]

Hello Guys

So I've recently purchased a MK1 LCR and its probably not been one of my better purchases. Took it to the garage few weeks ago and it has countless number of things wrong it. The previous owner deceived them pretty well, but I have to take the blame for buying it!

I'm thinking of flogging the motor, however just trying to tidy it up before I do so....

2 weeks ago I noticed the steering becoming really heavy and it started making a loud whiny noise when turning it either left, the mechanic has said the Power Steering Hose/Pipe from the Steering to the Reservoir is broken, and need a new one. I dropped a whole bottle of power steering fluid in the reservoir and it leaked out straight away before I could even travel a mile far.

I have tried looking for this part online from breakers and no one seems to be stocking it. I am reliably being told that it can only be purchased from dealer, who is charging an arm and a leg for it (£116+VAT), together with the labour cost, it comes to around £250!! I can't afford this..... and this is only one of the many things wrong with this lump of metal.

Does anyone know of anyone that might stock this part? Does labour really cost this much? Is there another cheaper option in getting this fixed??

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Adam

 

[bradd]

Hi,

I have had this exact problem and I found a replacement pipe on eBay, but obviously that carries the risk of it being second hand and may not be in the best condition

As for labour, depending on mechanical knowledge you could have a go at replacing it yourself, if not an independent small garage is probably your best bet!

 

[Battoussai]

Hi.

As I've learn here in the forum, try Dave at SereMotors.

Regards

 

[sockpuppet]

That was the first thing that broke on my car and paid £225 including pipe, fitting and fluid, I remember looking at the broken pipe they removed and thinking who designed this piece of **** that weaves all over the engine bay. This was 9 years ago so your £250 is about right. I try to do as much as I can myself, but quite a few jobs need special tools like the brake windback tool, torx and triple square tools. If you can locate the leak in the pipe, you can use self fusing silicon tape for a temporary bodge, I used it on a power stering pipe and it worked really well.

 

[Adams_CR]

Hi,

I have had this exact problem and I found a replacement pipe on eBay, but obviously that carries the risk of it being second hand and may not be in the best condition

As for labour, depending on mechanical knowledge you could have a go at replacing it yourself, if not an independent small garage is probably your best bet!

Thanks for the advice. I did however buy one off eBay and it turned out to be the wrong pipe!

 

[Adams_CR]

Hi.

As I've learn here in the forum, try Dave at SereMotors.

Regards

Thanks - Will give him a try tomorrow. Is he based in NI?

 

[Adams_CR]

That was the first thing that broke on my car and paid £225 including pipe, fitting and fluid, I remember looking at the broken pipe they removed and thinking who designed this piece of **** that weaves all over the engine bay. This was 9 years ago so your £250 is about right. I try to do as much as I can myself, but quite a few jobs need special tools like the brake windback tool, torx and triple square tools. If you can locate the leak in the pipe, you can use self fusing silicon tape for a temporary bodge, I used it on a power stering pipe and it worked really well.

I hadn't even considered taping the damn thing.... however having read your reply, I did speak to the mechanic and he said as the pipes actually broke it will not be possible to tape it.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Adams_CR]

From what it seems, I will have to buy the bloody pipe from a dealer and fork out for the ridiculously high labour charge! Unless this Dave guy from SereMotors can help....

 

[Adams_CR]

To provide an update - I spoke to David this morning and he does seem to know his stuff! He has quoted me £115 for a return pipe which connects from the steering rack to reservoir, which is similar price to one I've received. My only dilemma is that I have now found one on ebay (2nd hand) which is costing me £40 but am being assured by ebayer that it isn't faulty nor has leaks.

 

[Adams_CR]

What should I do?

 

[Battoussai]

If this is about money I'd go for the ebay deal just to fix it. It has its risks as may last a week or a year. Are you a lucky guy?