Hi I came off a kerb the other day and have a power steering leak. I have uploaded a photo of the leak any advice what part I need or advice in general would be greatly appreciated. 

Two possible scenarios I think:

1. it's been leaking slowly into that boot for a while, and the impact has just broken the seal between boot and tie-rod such that it can leak out, or 

2. You've killed the sealing at that end of the rack, and you'll need to replace it (the rack). 🙁

I can move that boot and it’s just squirting out of it when I move it at the end you see it dripping should I be able to pull/slide that up the rod or should it be sealed.

Edited 21 February, 20224 yr by DavidG

It should be clipped in place, but it's not intended as a fluid seal, because the boot shouldn't be full of fluid if the rack seal is OK.

 

It may have been 'stuck' in place before and formed enough of a seal to contain minor leakage, but if it keeps coming out, it sounds like you have a serious leak.  Can you check the level in the reservoir?

Yes I have been having to top it mate past couple of days tried that stop leak at first no joy. Now it looks like a new rack or scrapped 🙁

But the clip is shot then because I can slide it towards the wheel and the clip don’t hold it 

Yes, OK, but that doesn't matter much, the boot is to keep dirt and debris from the inner ball joint, not to contain the rack hydraulic fluid.

3 minutes ago, DavidG said:

Yes I have been having to top it mate past couple of days tried that stop leak at first no joy. Now it looks like a new rack or scrapped 🙁

Should be a lot of racks about in scrapyards, but the labour cost might be a bummer if you can't DIY it.

Thanks for your help mate 

No problem, sorry I couldn't offer happier news. 

If you do get a new rack fitted, be aware that the position of the alloy consoles that it's bolted to are critical to the alignment set-up of the front of the car, so if they are moved they need to go back in the same positions, to the nearest mm or so in any direction.  They're bolted to the chassis with generous clearance holes (17mm holes for M12 through-bolts) so you could easily end up with them a long way adrift and the alignment (toe, caster and camber) affected in bad ways.

Mate I’m clueless it’s probably gonna end up scrapped thanks for all your help though again.

On 21/02/2022 at 15:24, Pete1 said:

No problem, sorry I couldn't offer happier news. 

If you do get a new rack fitted, be aware that the position of the alloy consoles that it's bolted to are critical to the alignment set-up of the front of the car, so if they are moved they need to go back in the same positions, to the nearest mm or so in any direction.  They're bolted to the chassis with generous clearance holes (17mm holes for M12 through-bolts) so you could easily end up with them a long way adrift and the alignment (toe, caster and camber) affected in bad ways.

Update mate I got a new rack fitted and then tracking done cost me near enough 4 hundred but the polo lives and does not leak. Which my neighbours will be as happy as me about. 

Glad to hear you've saved the car. Hope it pays you back with good behaviour well into the future 🙂

23 hours ago, Pete1 said:

Glad to hear you've saved the car. Hope it pays you back with good behaviour well into the future 🙂

Spoke to soon mate amber power steering light showing up when it’s on full lock taking it back to the garage tomorow.