Leak!

**roony** · 01-09-2013 04:06 PM

Hey guys.

Bit of history. As of the past couple weeks the clutch feels lighter at times (when warm). Did a few worn clutch tests and nothing to report there.

I had the clutch master cylinder changed 1.5 years back. Stumbled across a leak that led me to the pics taken. Checked the oil drain plug and filter, all ok. The fluid does feel light. Could it be the clutch fluid or PS fluid?

I do top up my PS fluid after a while as it goes down a tad. The clutch fluid, well does seem ever so slightly less but it could be just me seeing things. I did the clutch fluid change a year back and PS fluid maybe 1.5 years back.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2qbd5k4.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/2qtvmmd.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2djyn8n.jpg

What area is above this that could be leaking?

Should I bleed the clutch fluid? Thanks

**DakDak** · 01-09-2013 07:04 PM

Looks like your steering rack boot to me.

Look at your car from the top of the area it is leaking. First sign of moisture is the culprit.

**d-Z1R3** · 01-09-2013 08:03 PM

yea i agree, you mentioned the topping up your p/s fluid a few weeks ago is a sign to me your leaking p/s fluid through your steering rack. Have you had a steering rack boot change before? a cracked boot car lead to grit wearing out the seal.

**roony** · 01-09-2013 08:45 PM

thanks for the replies. Couldnt see anything from the top, looked all fine. Never had the boot changed before.

Just trying to understand, the rack has a seal within that rubber boot? If the seal is bad, easy to just have the seal replaced?

I cleaned off the boot area well, so will check again to make sure the leak is from there.

**roony** · 02-09-2013 12:53 PM

found this.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2hg94ev.jpg

The pump itself seems fine, no strange noises. No symptoms to suggest that the o ring should be replaced. But from what I can see the fluid is leaking from the seam (is that even possible)?

**Fredoops** · 02-09-2013 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by roony

found this.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2hg94ev.jpg

The pump itself seems fine, no strange noises. No symptoms to suggest that the o ring should be replaced. But from what I can see the fluid is leaking from the seam (is that even possible)?

mine's got the same issue, it's even making a whirrling sound at idle.

It's in need for a rebuild

i got the rubber kit so i'll try to rebuild it myself in a month or 2's time.

**roony** · 02-09-2013 01:52 PM

oh. I dont have any noise so far. Keen to see how you go with the build, even help and observe if you see fit.

**fillit** · 03-09-2013 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by DakDak

Looks like your steering rack boot to me.

Look at your car from the top of the area it is leaking. First sign of moisture is the culprit.

Steering rack boot is predominately grease? I can't see that much moisture/liquid forming inside and leaking through without a decent tear in the boot itself.

**DakDak** · 04-09-2013 06:38 PM

My S15 steering rack boot looked similar. Couldnt even find the rip, but it was definitely the source. Grease becomes kinda runny when hot.

Looks like op has found the source anyway

**roony** · 21-09-2013 07:08 PM

Hey guys. So i managed to rebuild the PS pump. Didnt change the bearing as it was fine to being with, just the pump started to leak a bit. Got the seals from honda, didnt want to wait for the seal kit to come from the states, all up cost 58$.

So far so good, pump seems to be fine, steering lighter.

However, I inspected again the steering rack boot on the drivers side. It is leaking from inside, though i cannot see any tear on the boot itself (probably the seal inside is gone). It doesnt seem to be a huge leak, just a bit over time.

What is the best way to go about this:

1) Get a refurb unit (not sure where from)
2) wreckers
3) can mine be repaired if its just a matter of a bad seal? (seems u have to lower the subframe to get this rack out, which I wont be able to do).

Thanks

**DakDak** · 21-09-2013 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by roony

Hey guys. So i managed to rebuild the PS pump. Didnt change the bearing as it was fine to being with, just the pump started to leak a bit. Got the seals from honda, didnt want to wait for the seal kit to come from the states, all up cost 58$.

So far so good, pump seems to be fine, steering lighter.

However, I inspected again the steering rack boot on the drivers side. It is leaking from inside, though i cannot see any tear on the boot itself (probably the seal inside is gone). It doesnt seem to be a huge leak, just a bit over time.

What is the best way to go about this:

1) Get a refurb unit (not sure where from)
2) wreckers
3) can mine be repaired if its just a matter of a bad seal? (seems u have to lower the subframe to get this rack out, which I wont be able to do).

Thanks

So I was right.

Well since your saying steering has improve it leads me to think that there is nothing mechanically wrong with the steering system just the boot. Buy both boots from a spare parts store. You will need a band crimper tool thing. I think they are like $30. Its a specialised tool will need. And grease.

**roony** · 21-09-2013 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by DakDak

So I was right.

Well since your saying steering has improve it leads me to think that there is nothing mechanically wrong with the steering system just the boot. Buy both boots from a spare parts store. You will need a band crimper tool thing. I think they are like $30. Its a specialised tool will need. And grease.

Yes u were. The PS pump was also leaking some. I originally thought the fluid was trickling down to the boot. After removing the pump and opening my eyes more I realized there was no way the fluid would trickle down to the boot area.

But isnt the boot just a cover? If it is leaking isnt it the seal inside the boot, where the inner tie rod connects to the rack?

Originally Posted by DakDak

band crimper tool thing

So thats what the clamp thing was. Never saw one like that before, wanted to slide the boot to one side to see inside.