Leaking PS fluid

[DKS51R]

New problem!

Ive got power steering fluid leaking from the rack, the rubber thing has split
Now my question is

Do i replace only this rubber thing (11€) or do i have to replace the whole steering rack?

Cheers

Darks

[Boban]

is it the rubber boot on the steering arms or????? (there is one on wither side of the car)

It it's split and leaking grease all over your suspension just have to get another one and DIY it, like 10-20 min job, that is if you are leaking from where i think you are :p

[DKS51R]

im pretty sure its the rubber boot on the steering arm (my drivers side??)
Its splits, which has the result of ps fluid leaking on the ground (after one week of driving i had to fill up the fluid)

Does anyone know how i would DIY it?

[Boban]

if it's the boot than if shouldn't be laking your fluid man, the boot is there to protect the joint from getting dirt and other shiet on it.

To DIY it you have to take off the wheel (obviously), undo the nut that connects the steering arm to the hub (where the disc is), undo the little L-shaped thing "tie-rod end" (just unscrews, but make sure you count how many turns it is before its undone, so when you put it back on you know) and than you'll have just the steering arm, so cut off the zip ties on the boot, slide it off, put the new one on (might have to cut it a bit if it's too big(from my experience they are), if it's an aftermarket one and not a honda one), zip it back up, screw the tie-rod end in (the right amount of turns) and connect it back to the hub and you're done.

Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info

[DKS51R]

so why would it be leaking?

[creativepunka]

Bad seals in the steering assembly. The rubber boot is just to protect the sliding area of the steering arms from dirt not to hold ps fluid.

Yep hes right. You need to replace the rack or put up with the leak.

[Boban]

Or you could be leaking from the reservoir itself somewhere where the hoses attach and it's slowly running down the outside of the hose and dripping near the boot.

Hard to say without pics

[Limbo]

You could undo the arms to the rack and put some gasket sealant into the the threaded area to see of you can close the leak. There is a stop leak you can put in your power steering to close small leaks, It sometimes works but not always, worth a try as its a cheap and easy option.

The boots i don't think have anything in them, the're not like CV joints. But if they are ripped you just need to replace them. THey are fairly cheap.

[bennjamin]

before listening to anyone - try to find exactly WHERE the leak is coming from. Look for the tell tale wet areas.

[creativepunka]

You could undo the arms to the rack and put some gasket sealant into the the threaded area to see of you can close the leak.

:eek: LOL dont listen to this guy he has no idear.

[Limbo]

:eek: LOL dont listen to this guy he has no idear.


Mate i fixed 2 racks with this method

[DKS51R]

Ill have to go tomorrow to a friends work shop and hoist up the car and see where the leaks is coming from.

Im pretty sure that the leak is coming from the rack itself though

[teh_mechanic]

yeah the rubber is just a dust boot,fluid coming out of it means the seals in the rack are gone and its time to get a new steering rack

[creativepunka]

Mate i fixed 2 racks with this method

By putting sealant onto the rack end threads? I dont think iv ever seen a rack end leak. It will be the large seal around the rack shaft.

[bennjamin]

By putting sealant onto the rack end threads? I dont think iv ever seen a rack end leak. It will be the large seal around the rack shaft.

it sounds liek a very temporary "seal".
The rack end is a ball joint that the steering arm ajoins - if you put sealant here it will surely soon enough wear off again.
The real way to fix this is to replace the rack or rebuild it.

[DKS51R]

ill go to a mechanic and see what they say

[gtrmaniac]

Well i dont know if you've fixed it yet but most likely its your power steering rack the boot is to protect the seals n the rods from getting dirt on them when they get dirt on them the seals have a higher chance of them leaking the boot was prolli broken ages ago but you never noticed it untill you looked under so you need to take out ur steering rack and take it power steering specialist or take it to a mechanic they can recondition it or just swap it for a recondition one then u change the boots