Suspension & Steering
Steering Rack & Power Steering
A power steering leak on a Mercedes usually starts at a hose or the pump shaft seal — not the rack everyone assumes it is.
Signs you need this
- Whining or groaning that changes as you turn the wheel
- Red fluid on the driveway near the front of the car
- Steering that has become heavy, notchy or uneven
- Power steering warning message on the instrument cluster
How we approach it
We trace steering fluid leaks to the actual component, because the difference between a $250 hose and a $2,000 rack is worth twenty minutes of diagnosis. We rebuild or replace racks, replace pumps and reservoirs, flush contaminated fluid, and diagnose the electric power steering faults on newer models, where the fault is often a connector or a steering angle sensor rather than the motor. Every job ends with an alignment and a steering angle calibration.
What the job includes
- 01Leak trace with the system pressurised
- 02Power steering pump, reservoir and hose replacement
- 03Steering rack rebuild or replacement
- 04Complete fluid flush with correct MB specification
- 05Electric power steering module and sensor diagnosis
- 06Alignment and steering angle sensor calibration
Common questions
My steering only groans when cold. Is that serious?
It usually means the fluid is low or aerated, or the pump is beginning to wear. Catching it while it is a cold-start noise often means a hose and a flush rather than a pump.
Can a leaking rack be resealed instead of replaced?
On some models, yes, and we will price both. On many modern racks the labour to reseal approaches the cost of a rebuilt unit with a warranty, so replacement is the better value.
Let us take a look at it.
Call and describe what the car is doing. We will give you an honest assessment before any work begins.
7492 Slater Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 · Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm
Related services
Suspension Systems
AIRMATIC, Active Body Control and conventional suspension diagnosis and repair.
AIRMATIC Air Suspension
Sagging corners, a car on its bump stops, or a compressor that never stops running.
Active Body Control (ABC)
The hydraulic suspension on SL, CL and S-Class — pumps, struts, valve blocks and pulsation dampers.