Power Steering Issue ***A MUST READ***

[whitetdci]

I have a 09 MA Tdci which I maintain mechanically well eg coilovers remapped excellent tyres etc.
I started to have a issue with the power steering whilst on an extended trip in remote area. It progressively escalated until I needed ring ahead to the next big town to fly in a power steering pump. I self diagnosed this as it sounded like the pump, using the old screw driver stethoscope. Seemed to fix it at the time but 2 months later and back home it started up again. Ford replaced the pump under warranty and told the wife (who normally drives it) that the noise she now heard was just air and it should go away after a couple of days driving. After a couple of days she said it was getting worse. I drove it and was definitely not air in the line. Rang Ford who said that it was the steering rack and that it would cost $1750.00 for the part and $1000.00 for the fit! I have this inherent lack of trust with dealer workshops and in particular Ford as they have the tendency to just throw parts at the car in a shotgun approach at solving the problem. I took the car to a reputable steering place who had a look and confirmed it was the rack and that is was also an un-serviceable rack. We both agreed to go away and see who could find the best deal on a rack. I actually found a guy on Ebay who ran a shop in Sydney who services them. The steering place wanted me to ring him as the pic didn't match the rack (he had just put a stock steering rack pic on the ebay page). Well this guy, apart from confirming that he did have the right rack, told me that the problem was quite possibly the reservoir and not the rack. Like what?? He said go away and google it and check for yourself. I did and it seems in the UK there is a known problem such as this. OK so I bought the OEM power steering reservoir for $120 and took it to the steering place (not letting Ford do the work after the last effort and the subsequent quotes. Like who takes 10+ hours to do a rack??) They told me straight up that they didn't think that this would fix the issue at all and that I would more than likely need a rack too. I was prepared to take the risk of $120, after all you are still getting a new reservoir and inline filter.
So they changed it and much to everyone's surprise and my delight, it fixed it completely. Not more shuddering in the lines or cavitating from vibration after the engine stopped. Steering is now assisted and quiet. It seems that the inline filter within the reservoir, which incidentally is not serviceable too, can clog up and obstruct the flow. The new one has 2 filters in line. So there, thanks for reading this thesis and keep this one in mind if you or anyone you know has an issue such as this with their mondy.