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My 1991 245 SE recently had a "catastrophic" loss of steering fluid - went from steering fine to nothing within a few miles on the road.
I know next to nothing about any of the steering components, but am a living reason why this board can help - for in my case I've been able to pull advice from many sources including this board and get things done myself.
I think all my steering components are original. This is a northeast car with 190,000 mi. on it, so everything is very rusty under there.
I jack up the car and look to see where the fluid is leaking (what's left of it anyway), and I look at what I think is the steering rack - basically right under the engine and just in front of the lower oil pan area. I am pretty sure I've found the very hose where the fluid is gushing out of and I must say it just seems to have rusted through after so many years! It's not a rubber hose, but a metal hose (I don't know what metal it's made of though!). I can see it connects directly into the rack right front and center, and then also winds around toward the driver's side and this tube's other end connects to a component that seems to be coming directly from the steering wheel (yah, I know my description doesn't do it justice, sorry :).
I have a 600-mile trip that I was planning to leave for on Thursday.
Questions are 2:
1. Is it common, or if not, even possible to replace just this metal hose (yes, I know a total replacement of the entire rack might eventually be in order given the sheer amount of rust that has resulted in one of the lines just simply rusting right through)? I fear that I have to buy the whole rack unit and that these hoses just don't come separate.
2. The car is definitely driveable without the power steering. Are there problems with driving without power steering that would damage the car further?
I can see the obvious potential for danger in driving without power steering - but is it one of those things you just would never even consider doing? Cause I really don't want to miss this trip. I have very little time to invest in any "band aid" repair that might be feasible, but I'd love to hear if anyone can offer suggestions to help me with this problem.
Thank you all for wading through my lengthy post.
Regards,
Travis
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1991 245 SE, 185k going on 300k
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