lbs_ft

So I've been losing P/S fluid (A/T fluid, but I'll refer to it from here on out as P/S fluid) slowly but surely for a while now, but it's hot as hell out, so I took my time looking for the culprit.

After doing some investigating one evening, I realized that the driver's side rack and pinion boot was ripped. Passenger side is perfectly fine but the driver's side is in 2 distinct pieces. I know that if it gets to the point where it leaks P/S fluid from the boot, you need to replace either a seal or the whole rack and pinion, but - again - it's hotter than you can imagine and crawling around under a flaming hot car on the baking hot asphalt is not something I want to do if I can avoid it.

BUT - it's been a week since I noticed the initial leak, and it wasn't that bad then, and that leak is literally blasting the asphalt with piss (fluid) now, especially on tight right turns. You can see where I turn into my parking spot everyday because of the P/S stains. I go through about a quart a week, no joke. What in God's name did I do to deserve this?

Bought a replacement boot, but I'm pretty sure if I just toss this boot on, it won't magically hermetically seal the rack and pinion and stop the leak like woah. I mean, its a rubber boot and a ziptie.

Do I need to replace a bushing or scrap the whole thing and replace it at this point?

And here's the million dollar question:

What would happen if I didn't?
What would happen if I tossed this new boot on and called it a day?
Any detrimental effects of not replacing the rack/bushing?

I was planning on swapping in a HICAS rack in the winter, think I can make it till then?

I can answer any and all questions to the best of my abilities. And to clarify, I'm not a newbie moron jackass special-needs time bomb, I'm just wondering, so keep your opinion of me to yourself. If need be, I can replace the bushing or the whole rack, I just really don't want to yet. So what would happen if I didn't? Because I really can justify spending the money for P/S fluid until winter if it means I don't have to die from heat exhaustion.

Thanks in advance!

S14DB

When you rip a boot dirt gets on the rack and then gets dragged across the seal ripping it. Then you start pissing out fluid.

You should only need to pull that seal and clean up the rack to make sure it's clean.

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lbs_ft

You are a live-saver and a God-send sir. Drinks on me when you're in the 757.

Not to sound greedy or ungrateful, but is there any way you could tell me how to check/replace said seal? Or point me in the direction I need to look? I'm all up on Google, Zilvia, and a bunch of other forums searching.

Mikey McFly

Or just swap it out for a HICAS rack and pinion, if you don't already have it.

S14DB

Download a FSM PDF off "the web". Should be in the Steering System(ST) section. May not be something you want to tackle and just get a rebuilt unit.

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Comments should be taken as Opinions not as Statements of Fact

lbs_ft

Alright, got it. Here's a screenshot of the exploded view of the rack and pinion:



The part is question, is it the end cover assembly or the rack oil seal?

And do I have to pull the rack and pinion to replace it?

VinceDude

do i need that rear housing cover in between the rear housing assembly and the steering column? Mine is cracked and fell apart.