While a power steering fluid leak itself may only cause a single problem, the problems that are caused by the leak can have several interconnected components fail as well. Understanding the causes of additional damage will help in diagnosing the root cause of other problems.
The Pump Seals
Running the pump when the fluid level is low will put strain on the pump. This can cause severe damage to the internal seals in a very short period of time. You may notice a whining noise when starting the engine or notice that there is a lot of resistance when steering at low speeds. However, it is usually only the seals that are damaged and these can be replaced individually.
The Steering Rack
The seals on the steering rack will dry out and start to crack without lubrication from the fluid. This can cause a large amount of wear on the rack and could potentially cause a failure. When the rack fails it can cause a large amount of damage and could be very expensive to repair.
Rack Gaiters
The gaiters of the steering rack often get affected by the leaking fluid. The petroleum-based power steering fluid can make the rubber of the gaiters soft after some time. In most cases the gaiters will split due to dry dirt getting into the steering rack. Also check for worn-out rack, as the split gaiters can wear it out very fast.
Steering Hoses
High-pressure hoses will also soften and eventually develop bulges or cracks in sections that have been saturated with escaped fluid. Inspect both the high-pressure hose that goes to the pump and the low-pressure return hose as well for damage. If you want Steering Parts, //westernpowersteering.co.uk/steering-parts/ is a good place to start.
The Fluid Itself
Because the contaminated fluid deteriorates faster than new clean fluid, even after repairing a leak, old fluid can continue to deteriorate the seals. This needs to be flushed out and replaced with new, proper type fluid after the repair.
If a leak is discovered, always carry out a complete check of the steering system, even if a top-up of power steering fluid is all that is required.
