Steering rack woes (1 Viewer)

[brAvery103]

Unfortunately I don’t have the time to do the work myself, so I have my 2000 LC in the shop right now for tie rods (inner and outer) as well as steering rack bushings. I ordered parts from cruiserteq and supplied new bellows as well as clamps and whiteline rack bushings.

I just received a text from the shop saying they pulled the tie rods and the rack is leaking” from the rack and pinion”. So I have a quick question for you all: If the boots are completely dry on the steering rack, is it still possible that the rack is bad? If we pull the tie rods, can there still be a leak?

 

[Bisho]

Unfortunately I don’t have the time to do the work myself, so I have my 2000 LC in the shop right now for tie rods (inner and outer) as well as steering rack bushings. I ordered parts from cruiserteq and supplied new bellows as well as clamps and whiteline rack bushings.

I just received a text from the shop saying they pulled the tie rods and the rack is leaking” from the rack and pinion”. So I have a quick question for you all: If the boots are completely dry on the steering rack, is it still possible that the rack is bad? If we pull the tie rods, can there still be a leak?

Its possible, but unlikely, that the rack is leaking at the inner tie rod, but not leaking out the boot. When I changed my inner tie rod I got surprised by a couple teaspoons of fluid. It could also be leaking from the input shaft.

If you can return your parts, you could order a new rack and be done with it. If you can't return the parts, or your time/money strapped, just get everything done, flush the power steering fluid and add AT-205. This has worked for many to slow or stop leaks by adding plasticizer back into the seals. It worked for me for 40k miles or so, when my bushings wore out at 285k miles and I replaced the rack.

 

[brAvery103]

Its possible, but unlikely, that the rack is leaking at the inner tie rod, but not leaking out the boot. When I changed my inner tie rod I got surprised by a couple teaspoons of fluid. It could also be leaking from the input shaft.

If you can return your parts, you could order a new rack and be done with it. If you can't return the parts, or your time/money strapped, just get everything done, flush the power steering fluid and add AT-205. This has worked for many to slow or stop leaks by adding plasticizer back into the seals. It worked for me for 40k miles or so, when my bushings wore out at 285k miles and I replaced the rack.

This is the direction I chose to go. I was planning on flushing the fluid already, but I’ll add the AT-205 to the list. Thank you

 

[SteveH]

Its possible, but unlikely, that the rack is leaking at the inner tie rod, but not leaking out the boot.

My '98 4Runner did this for 10 years. I'm sure a shop would have declared the rack needing replacement.

Every few years, I'd pull the steering rack boot clamp, drain the leaked ATF from inside the boot, and reinstall the boot. The ATF (PS fluid) never hit the ground and the steering worked just fine.