Safrane610 wrote:
Came to my car this morning to find all the power steering fuid all over the drive so suspect it may be the pipe has had it so that isn't good news. First real problem I've had in 11 years with the car.
No need to cry, thats almost certainly the low pressure return pipe. When I rang Ren-Oh about that a year or two back those were still available at approx £140 + vat. Its the high pressure (rather critical one) that is gone.
The low pressure one has a large metal pipe along it behind the radiator which is (as far as I know) to cool the pas fluid down on its return to the pump. These rot really badly as they're noit aluminium like the rad or AC condensor. They seem to be bog standard steel so naturally they'll rust away. A previous safrane we had suffered from this and the previous owner had simply had a replacement steel pipe welded into place. Granted it wasn't the right size but I never had any problems with the steering on that car.
Chin up 610, it'll be ok

I'm breaking my 2.5 at the moment and do have the low pressure return pipe but I must warn you.. it's in awful condition and a tap with your thumb would probably make it spill fluid. I'm keeping the high pressure as they're a pig but the low pressure can be hacked to fix it. If you want mine, say the word and for a tenner plus posties wages you can have it but be warned it may not live long if it survives the journey to you.
If its the steering rack then you're in trouble. They're available (or were last time I enquired) but about £500 reconditioned from Ren-Oh. You might get lucky elsewhere though. Unfortunately thats one bit I won't sell as I need it for the other safrane...