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Leakage at steering gear boot

Old Apr 12, 2012 | 12:26 AM
  #1  
jurickwessels's Avatar
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Leakage at steering gear boot

There is some red fluid leaking from the steering gear boot on the left passenger side, and now i seem to be losing power in my steering. Is it a seal problem ? hope its not something serious. Any advice on what i should do ?
Old Apr 12, 2012 | 06:53 AM
  #2  
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I think it's just a boot that you can replace I believe that is the same problem I have
Old Apr 12, 2012 | 07:29 AM
  #3  
NismoPick's Avatar
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From: Wild Wild West, UTAH!
The red fluid is ATF (power steering fluid) leaking from the rack seals...

leak = loss of fluid = eventual loss in power steering.

Replacing the boot won't stop a high pressure leak.

You can:
Let it keep leaking, and just refill when needed.
Pull and rebuild the rack.
Pull and replace the rack.
Old Apr 12, 2012 | 02:26 PM
  #4  
turbopuppy's Avatar
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From: Four corners area
Easy Job.
You can pull the rack and send it to A1 Cardone for less than $200. It will come back remanufactured to OEM specs and includes inner tie rods. Good opportunity here to overhaul front end (brakes, bearings, struts, bushings, endlinks, outer tie-rods, ball joints, and alignment)

Work order and details at rockauto.com under "rack and pinion complete unit"

I did all this over winter (except wheel bearings) on my manual R&P stearing gear. Excellent outcome. Whole job cost me around $800 but I used my old calipers, rotors, old springs, sandblasted and painted everything, already had fresh bearings. Also installed new strut mounts, strut bearings, and T/C rod kit update. Brake hoses where rotten and the fluid was muddy. So also got a solid brake job done. An alignment will be necessary once you pull the rack or disconnect the tie rods.
Old Dec 6, 2012 | 07:34 AM
  #5  
iamericgee's Avatar
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I want to do this soon I saw online that you can just buy the rack refurbished for around 171.00 with core charge my boots has been leaking for some time and I am getting sick of refilling it ha
Old Dec 7, 2012 | 10:42 PM
  #6  
SHADY280's Avatar
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From: Mission, British Columbia
you can also just buy new seals if the rest of the unit works fine, prolly cost under 20 bux.
Old Apr 20, 2013 | 03:25 AM
  #7  
Gonzo's Avatar
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From: South of Dallas
Complete seal kit at OReilys cost $60 some odd dollars. You can also try the Lucas PS treatment for about $10 which works really good. My R&P was pouring fluid and now it's a minor drip. Well worth the ten spot to me.
Old Apr 21, 2013 | 11:27 AM
  #8  
mrprofile's Avatar
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From: Tacoma, WA
It sounds like it is leaking out of your "bellows boot" you can get a new one easy, the one problem is a bunch of places stock the incorrect one, I ordered one and the inner part was too small a diameter to fit around the rack, if you order one, be sure the inner part is as wide as the bellows part, not smaller. I know nissan has the correct one, but it is like 50 dollars.
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