3200 power steering issue

[jluis]

My 3200 had steering play flagged at the MOT and I have been trying to figure out where.
Can't find any play in the track rods either the inner or outer ones.
pushing the wheel left and right and all I can see is the steering rack arm moving. track rods seem to have no play and I'm wondering if the MOT guy was drunk ...

Anyway, while doing this I obviously had to pull the boots to see the track rod joints and on the driver side I got a large amount of oil oozing out.
It's not power steering fluid as that one is red and less viscous.
This looks like motor oil.

I tought these things only took grease.
Is mine broken somehow or is this normal?

Workshop manual doesn't mention anything about lubrication.
I'm puzzled ...

 

[spkennyuk]

Im pretty sure they check the play at the steering wheel.

If your parked up wheels straight ahead put either a chalk line or tape on the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position. If your checking it on your own put something like a tin right next to the road wheel so that you can hear it move as soon as the road wheel move sidewards. Easier with an assistant to watch the road wheels to let you know when they move.

Turn the steering wheel to the right as soon as the road wheels start to turn put a marker at the new 12 o'clock position.

Reset the steering wheel to 12 and then turn the wheel to the left and repeat chalk line or tape the the new 12 o'clock position as soon as the road wheels move.

Measure the gap between the the original 12 o'clock position and the mark you now have on each side.

Your only allowed 13 mm on each side.
If the gap is bigger on one side than the other it will help you pinpoint the side that needs looking at.

I will see if i can find the exact test specs as there is possibly an allowance based on steering wheel size.

 

[spkennyuk]

Here you go.

 

[jluis]

It’s not in the UK and their method was a bit more agricultural.
Car over a pit, one guy inside the pit and another one shaking the wheels.
I was inside the car.

I feel 0 play when driving or when the car is stationary.
My first car was an old piece of junk that I could turn the steering wheel a bit without any effect on the wheels so I know what play feels like

At the moment I’m more concerned about the oil that came out of the boot.
I have never heard of power steering racks lubricated with oil and I’m pretty sure it’s not power steering fluid

 

[conaero]

The brown oil I suspect is power steering fluid leaking through the rack seal and mixing with the grease...hence the new colour.

Clean out, brake cleaner, re grease and monitor.

 

[jluis]

The brown oil I suspect is power steering fluid leaking through the rack seal and mixing with the grease...hence the new colour.

Clean out, brake cleaner, re grease and monitor.

Could be, altough the oil reservoir looks fine.
Will clean and monitor
Any grease recommendations?

 

[Oneball]

I had play in the bush that the rack slides in within the casing. Could be your issue based on the dirty oil in the boot. Relatively easy change for a good used rack.
Video of the play here. View my video at https://oneball.smugmug.com/Cars/Maserati/n-HHjTtf/i-fNnDHKv

 

[jluis]

I had play in the bush that the rack slides in within the casing. Could be your issue based on the dirty oil in the boot. Relatively easy change for a good used rack.
Video of the play here. View my video at https://oneball.smugmug.com/Cars/Maserati/n-HHjTtf/i-fNnDHKv

Thanks,
Mine doesn’t clunk and I cannot move it like that. I have to apply more pressure and when it doesn’t move, the steering arm also moves, which I assume it’s normal as it’s pushing the opposite wheel.

I did see your thread on the steering rack where you posted a video of the arm wiggling within the casing. What symptoms were you experiencing?

 

[Oneball]

Thanks,
Mine doesn’t clunk and I cannot move it like that. I have to apply more pressure and when it doesn’t move, the steering arm also moves, which I assume it’s normal as it’s pushing the opposite wheel.

I did see your thread on the steering rack where you posted a video of the arm wiggling within the casing. What symptoms were you experiencing?

I just noticed mine clunk when I took a wheel off to change the brake line.

You could have similar but not as bad. To check for certain move the road wheel with the rack boot off and check that the rack is moving in and out in the casing as the arm moves and not up and down.

 

[jluis]

I had play in the bush that the rack slides in within the casing. Could be your issue based on the dirty oil in the boot. Relatively easy change for a good used rack.
Video of the play here. View my video at https://oneball.smugmug.com/Cars/Maserati/n-HHjTtf/i-fNnDHKv

Btw, looking at your other pictures it’s like looking at my car ...
I too had a bent radiator holder frame and the plastic shield just like yours and my Siemens valve is also shot which I assume is what causes hard starts in the summer when it’s hot and occasional rough running when starting

 

[Oneball]

I got my plastic undertray from a dealer their parts guy said they used to sell loads when the cars were new as everybody was clobbering them.

not sure about the valve.

 

[jluis]

I got my plastic undertray from a dealer their parts guy said they used to sell loads when the cars were new as everybody was clobbering them.

not sure about the valve.

I meant the valve in this photo

Maserati - oneball

This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

oneball.smugmug.com

Mine is broken and allows for a vacuum leak between the intake manifold and the air filter box

 

[safrane]

On my first 4200 I had an advisory at the start of my ownership for slight play in the rack. It was the universal joint covered by the rubber boot on the RHS of the steering rack, not the wheel end.

You could see ever so slight movement when wriggling the wheel with no corresponding movement in the steering shaft on the same side.

30k more miles and 4 years and it was never reported again or made any worse.

Emblem told me it was a known weak point and that you used to be able to buy a kit... but then Maserati only wanted to sell whole racks... hence why I did not fix.

It has only just come up again on the MOT history check for the new owner, some 14 years later.

 

[jluis]

On my first 4200 I had an advisory at the start of my ownership for slight play in the rack. It was the universal joint covered by the rubber boot on the RHS of the steering rack, not the wheel end.

You could see ever so slight movement when wriggling the wheel with no corresponding movement in the steering shaft on the same side.

30k more miles and 4 years and it was never reported again or made any worse.

Emblem told me it was a known weak point and that you used to be able to buy a kit... but then Maserati only wanted to sell whole racks... hence why I did not fix.

It has only just come up again on the MOT history check for the new owner, some 14 years later.

Thanks, I will ignore it and take it to the MOT
If I get the advisory again I will try asking to go into the pit to see exactly where the play is

 

[Oneball]

I meant the valve in this photo

Maserati - oneball

This photo hosted by SmugMug; your photos look better here.

oneball.smugmug.com

Mine is broken and allows for a vacuum leak between the intake manifold and the air filter box

I honestly can’t remember what that does! If it’s leaking though can’t be good.

 

[jluis]

I honestly can’t remember what that does! If it’s leaking though can’t be good.

It controls the discharge of fuel vapor stored in the carbon canister