So I opened the bonnet on the weekend to check a few bits and pieces, and I noticed the power steering reservoir was practically empty.
There has been an advisory of 'light misting of oil on steering rack' for the past couple of services - and a slight burning oil smell when stood idling, but I never worried much about it until now.
My steering rack is properly leaking! The subframe is wet with ATF fluid, the neck where the column meets the rack is soaking, and I reckon a seal has blown somewhere (no sh*t sherlock ).
Initially I thought it was corrosion on the lower supply pipe (which is a bit of a mess) but that's completely dry to the touch. Do the seals go where the rod ends meet the rack? Can these seals be replaced, or do I need a whole new rack?
All the other joints seem dry. I've checked it with the motor running & working the steering hard & can't see anything from the unions. I'm guessing at 84k miles & 14 years old I'm starting to see rubber bits perishing?
Any advice is most appreciated.
Here are some pictures: