Just wanna confirm if this is a leak from the steering rack? This is on the driver side. Passenger side is a little moist but no leak. Can i still drive this thing or gotta replace the steering rack ASAP?
Steering Rack Leak? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter YetiCruiser14
- Start date
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I believe you're correct in the diagnosis. You might try changing the power steering fluid and adding AT-205 stop-leak to see if it slows/stops after 4-5 hours of driving. Eventually you'll have to replace but that could buy you some time.
Since its not leaking from the boots I think its either a loose PS high pressure line/bolt or maybe a slight leak in the line. I don't think its the rack given where its leaking.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thank you. I checked the power steering reservoir still almost full. Had a little too much fun in the mountains today my plastic/oem under body cover was scraped in the driver side as well so i guess some impact caused this leak. I moved the truck to a different parking spot and will see if it leaves some oil on the floor.
What are the symptoms to watch out for if the steering rack has to be replaced already aside from the leak of course
What are the symptoms to watch out for if the steering rack has to be replaced already aside from the leak of course
- Thread starter
- #5
Power steering line. High pressure feed/return lines in your case. They enter the rack on the driver side of rack. The high pressure feed is bolted to the rack with a banjo bolt and a crush washer. Those can leak sometimes. Otherwise, it could also be somewhere upstream from the banjo bolt, meaning it would be a leak anywhere in the High pressure feed/return lines. Usually racks fail on the inner tie rod seals, which soak the boots. Yours don't seem too wet which is why I don' think rack is bad.
- Thread starter
- #7
Gotcha. So it could JUST be the lines that brings the fluid from the reservoir to the actual rack that makes the whole system work. Well i wont be able to bring it to my buddy until the next weekend. Is it safe to drive the truck still? I just looked at the reservoir fluid level and i dont think it moved a bit.
Probably safe to drive it a bit. I forget which side of the engine has the transmission cooler lines but I would check the transmission fluid level just in case. If somehow those lines got compromised they might leak ATF. Very unlikely though.
- Thread starter
- #9
Got it. But the picture i posted shows some leak in the area where the hose and rack meets so I think its either the rack is shot or the washer failed.
You'll need to remove the front brush guard to figure out where this leak is coming from.
Take the plastic skid plates off and take a picture.
Just to be more specific, remove the front (metal) brush guard as well as the plastic splash guard. Will make it easier to diagnose and need to be removed anyway for most repairs.
Appears to be a fair amount of "red" colored fluid leaked out for the reservoir to still show full. #1-Is the fluid in your PS reservoir red (remove cap and check color on the indicator under the cap.) If #1 is yes, as others offered up; remove protective undercover and the front brush guard; spray steering rack with degreaser ( mix of Mr. Clean or some other dish or floor cleaner & water) pressure wash it and watch for leaks. #2 Check transmission cooler hoses as well.
What year is your 100? Helps to post all the relevant vehicle info in your sig line or your post.
What year is your 100? Helps to post all the relevant vehicle info in your sig line or your post.
Thought my rack was leaking as well, turned out the hoses on res were the culprit. Maybe clean everything up and keep an eye on it just to be sure you know where its coming from.
- Thread starter
- #15
Latest development. Yeah my power steering fluid is colorless. And since someone replaced my radiator my mechanic said that that mechanic might have pinched some hose thats why the atf i leaking.
I use transmission fluid in my power steering, like many here do. Worth calling out as to why it's imperative that you remove the panels underneath so you can properly see where the leak is coming from.
Re- PS Fluid Color: Good info, so now we know PS fluid is clear- it's NOT ATF in your steering system and likely not the source of your leak.
Red fluid: Transmission or Coolant. Both will feel slick- odor will be very different and easy to tell difference. What year 100? 02 (I think 02) & earlier have Transmission Dip stick making checking level (and smell) easy. There are two transmission cooler lines that are plugged into the lower tank on the radiator- and routed just below the steering rack held in place by a retaining hoop in the center of the brace- if they are just hanging loose and not tied back- this can cause problems. Once you remove all the undercover's & guards start tracing lines & hoses from the radiator outward and take some pics.
In unlikely case its coolant: dbl check your coolant res bottle just to see if there is fluid in it and what the color is. You can remove the radiator cap to inspect radiator fluid level cold (should be full right to the top of the neck).
- Thread starter
- #18
Thanks for the detailed explanation. As far as if its the coolant or atf, the coolant level in my radiator is fine and did not move a bit. As far as the atf dipstick, yes my truck is a 2001 so I will check it out later. However, how do i get a correct level reading? Should the vehicle be running? Or cold? I watched somewhere that tye vehicle must be parked in neutral or park to get accurate reading.
My reliable mechanic is confident that my PS is fine because he was the one who drained my PS fluid in february and we used Prestone ps fluid which is colorless. He also knows that my radiator was replaced by a different mechanic less than a month ago which makes him thinj that maybe the installation damaged the cooler hoses that causes the leak.
- Thread starter
- #19
This is my power steering fluid.
Trans fluid level is checked when the fluid is at operating temp and the truck is parked and running.
