Passenger side steering boot damage

[planomateo]

Think I caught a rock on the drive home from HIH7. Didn't notice any leak when I got home, when I moved the vehicle in the driveway the next day I noticed a trail of fluid on the driveway.

Any tips or tricks for replacing this?

 

[Spike555]

That boot does not hold fluid, it is to cover the hydraulic ram on the rack and pinion.
Now with that being said, if the seal on the rack is leaking that boot will hold said fluid until it becomes full or damaged and starts to leak.
You can unclamp that boot, move it and check for leaks. But I do not think you can replace that boot without a ton of work.
Power steering is still full yes?

 

[planomateo]

I need to disassemble to figure out where the leak is coming from. Perhaps its just an o-ring or an oil seal (fingers crossed).

Anyone else every dealt with this?

 

[COGerding]

I need to disassemble to figure out where the leak is coming from. Perhaps its just an o-ring or an oil seal (fingers crossed).

Anyone else every dealt with this?

View attachment 1509396

@planomateo same EXACT thing happened to me. Drove 375 miles home to Denver from HIH with no problems. Truck sat in garage overnight and then I washed it in driveway with no issues. I pulled back into garage before I took it to mechanic for other service. When I came back - there was 2-3 tablespoons of power steering fluid in my garage. My theory is that I developed a small leak (possibly as a result of wheeling it pretty hard over 3 days) and then the fluid built up in the boot. I either ripped the boot on the trail OR I may have hit the boot when I powerwashed the undercarriage. Not sure. Lexus dealership said to replace the steering rack for $2200 (I'm not doing that). My plan is to monitor the leak for a few days, put Lucas power steering stop leak as a stop gap measure and put a new boot on I got from NAPA for $20. I will have to take the tie rod end off to get the new boot on (as shown in your very helpful FSM pic).

As a disclaimer - I am NOT a mechanic and am just starting to work on my truck a bit more as it needs it. Others may have different/better advice.

I'm sub'ing to see what you do and what others may say. There are other detailed threads on here that address steering rack and boot questions where I was able to ascertain the above plan.

 

[COGerding]

@planomateo same EXACT thing happened to me. Drove 375 miles home to Denver from HIH with no problems. Truck sat in garage overnight and then I washed it in driveway with no issues. I pulled back into garage before I took it to mechanic for other service. When I came back - there was 2-3 tablespoons of power steering fluid in my garage. My theory is that I developed a small leak (possibly as a result of wheeling it pretty hard over 3 days) and then the fluid built up in the boot. I either ripped the boot on the trail OR I may have hit the boot when I powerwashed the undercarriage. Not sure. Lexus dealership said to replace the steering rack for $2200 (I'm not doing that). My plan is to monitor the leak for a few days, put Lucas power steering stop leak as a stop gap measure and put a new boot on I got from NAPA for $20. I will have to take the tie rod end off to get the new boot on (as shown in your very helpful FSM pic).

As a disclaimer - I am NOT a mechanic and am just starting to work on my truck a bit more as it needs it. Others may have different/better advice.

I'm sub'ing to see what you do and what others may say. There are other detailed threads on here that address steering rack and boot questions where I was able to ascertain the above plan. View attachment 1509413

Here was my puddle in the garage. Only small drips since then. And I can't tell yet if the small drips were residual in the boot or new.

 

[planomateo]

@Spike555 PS fluid is at the cold mark.

@DirtDawg any input considering you just replaced your steering rack recently?

@COGerding bummer, I've been reading up on threads about the matter for a few days. Still trying to wrap my head around what it could be as I've never worked on this before.

 

[DirtDawg]

Looks like a little leak. I would replace the boot and see how fast the leak is happening. If weeping, I would try some stop leak as mentioned above. How old is the rack?

 

[AimCOtaco]

The fluid is leaking into the boot from the steering rack, the boots are just dust covers for the shafts and seals but should not be filling with fluid.
Steering rack replacement due to leakage, roughness, or slop are pretty common on these trucks and 'wheeling is often the last straw.
If the rack is old, I'd look at a new one rather than trying to self repair the one you have.

 

[planomateo]

2007 rack as far as I know.

 

[COGerding]

2007 rack as far as I know.

Mine is an '07 as well. Which is why I'm going to try and nurse it a bit. Steering has a little play, but still feels fairly responsive. As long as I'm not seeing a dramatic drop of PS fluid in the reservoir, I'll monitor and try the stop leak.

 

[DirtDawg]

What @COGerding said

 

[Spike555]

PSA to all, DO NOT USE LUCAS POWER STEERING STOP LEAK, it fried the power steering pump on my wifes Volvo.
Stop leak makes the power steering fluid to thick, not to mention that POWER STEERING stop leak is for power steering fluid and not ATF, our trucks use ATF NOT power steering fluid. Different fluids should not be mixed if you can help it.
My wives Volvo used ATF in the power steering system, her rack and pinion was going bad, yes the Lucas fixed the hard spots but fried the pump.

What you want to use is a high mileage ATF with seal conditioners, it causes the seals and O-rings to swell and then seal.
I prefer Valvoline MaxLIfe, it is a full synthetic ATF with seal conditioners.
That is where I would start if I were you guys, flush the power steering system using the high mileage ATF, then drive it keeping the system full.
After a few thousand miles the leak should be gone completely.
$2200 buys a hell of a lot of ATF.

 

[reznunt]

ATP AT-205 worked great for me. It stopped the leak from the seal on the rack where the steering shaft connects. It used to lose a tablespoon a day. Been dry for about 5k miles with no signs of returning yet. Lucas Oil stop leak worked great on my Tundra... seep went dry and still is 15k miles later. I'm a believer. YMMV

 

[planomateo]

Replaced the fluid with some Mobil 1 ATF and put in some ATP AT205, took a few days for the leak to quit. Almost 3 weeks later and it appears to be holding. Now I get to replace the boot.

Thanks for the advice on the ATP AT205.