Gary,
Peter Krogh here (Kensington, MD).  You probably have a bad seal at the
steering rack. Check under the van, you'll see where I'm talking about.
There is a rebuild kit available from Bus Depot ($90), but I could not find
anyone local to install it.  I had my rack replaced at Dick's Autohaus across
the bay bridge.  This part, at least, seemed to be done well.

The bad news is:
p/s rack assembly 359.85
Labor (R&R, Flush ,Align) 189.00

Yikes!

The good news is, that it has a lifetime guarantee.  I looked on the bus
depot site for the rack, and they show it at $250, but i'm not sure it has
the guarantee.  Even if it does, you might do better to pay the markup, if
that makes the shop more likely to

My first one went bad under warranty, and the second lasted only several
years. I drove my van with the bad rack for something like 7 years before
fixing it.  You have to take off the p/s belt, and it would be nice for the
Chesapeake Bay if you would drain the fluid into a pan.  You do not want to
drive it with low fluid and the belt attached, as you can kill the pump, and
that adds another $250 in parts alone to the repair.  There is no hurry to
get this done, once you take the belt off, if you can manage parking without
the power steering.

As a matter of fact, it makes the expenses seem that much more worthwhile
when you have power steering again after some time.  Also good for upper body
strength.
Peter

In a message dated 10/16/01 9:28:51 AM, gmr@OBPA.USDA.GOV writes:

<< I was poking around under my Westy and noticed quite a bit of oily fluid

around and on the gas tank.  Also noticed that my power steering fluid is

low.  I filled it up and it's low again - obviously a power steering leak

somewhere.  Is this a common type of leak and how is it fixed?

Gerry Royston

Bethesda, MD

'87 Westy

 >>