Power steering rack and pinion -- leaking a tad bit of oil

I need to go on a trip and while replacing the UCA ball joint and bushings I noticed that the R&P is leaking a small bit of oil on both sides. The boots are wet. The reservoir is not low and I have not had to refill but obviously there is a problem.


Will this just be a situation where over time it leaks more and more till too much leaks out to have to re-fill or is there a possibility of a catastrophic failure. Id rather wait till after the trip. Bout a 3000 mile trip with lots of bad roads

 

Mine is like that too. I think it's been about a year and a half or more, probably around 20,000 miles. And I had to add a little just one time.

 

Just carry an extra bottle of fluid in the back I'd venture to say you will be just fine for a while until the leakage gets worse. Just keep an eye on it

 

Why not get it fixed?

 

New or rebuilt rack is pricey. Coupled with labor if u don't do it yourself probably looking at a grand. A spare bottle of ps fluid is quite a bit cheaper

 

Its going to be fixed. I have a 3000 mile trip coming up in the next few days and and i dont want to be dealing with a catastrophic failure on the road but i really dont have the time to do it right now before the trip.

If it can wait, which apparently it can, then that makes life easier on me.

I agree with you -- I am a bit up-tight about anything leaking oil or being on its last leg. I like to get things fixed ASAP. Thats just me. I have the $$ right now so I can afford to take that approach.

 

Right now i am in MX -- got quoted $400MXN = about $35USD so labor is not an issue. I get a discount at NAPA which only charges a bit over what is charged in the USA and it has a life time warranty so I am pretty lucky on the labor portion of the equation. The good thing about this shop is that I get to supervise any work to make sure everything gets done properly

 

Before it gets any worse go get the Lucas power steering stop leak. Suck fluid out of resevoir a couple of times without it running so you can get the whole bottle in the system. It has stopped any further seepage on the one side that started to leak on mine. I put it in over 4 months ago. Dealer will rape you for 1100 for new rack or about 600 to rebuild the one you have and NO, this is NOT considered part of the drivetrain so unless you have a bumper to bumper warranty it won't be covered. Of course, mine was fine until my bumper to bumper expired.

 

Not a big fan of lucas -- some of their stuff "IMO" is snake-oil and actually can cause more problems in the long run.

 

Whatever, just passing along what has kept me from fucking with another pwr steering rack like on my old 05. I have lost no fluid since, there are no issues or noises & no more leaking. Just information to use or not. More issues in long run? Like replacing the rack or pump? Like you are going to anyway? $7 or $700, your call.

 

relax -- i clearly said IMO and only for some of their products. Id rather just replace since i plan on keeping my truck for many more years and since you can reasonably expect the average R&P to last much more than 100K miles i figure that if i replace now or 20K miles from now it will $$ out of my pocket. I have the $$ now, that may not be true tomorrow. No matter what I do I don't think this R&P will last the life i want to get out of the truck. It will need replacement and also my bushings are shot. One more reason to get under there and deal with it now.

If i did not have the $$ then id keep filling or take your approach. However, I dont feel that is a long term fix.

Just the same, thanks for your input -- it just doesn't jive with the approach i want to take. Also, I work with industrial lubricants. Ive seen some of their claims and based on my experience i don't agree with them. I have been doing this for 10 years now and have seen failures on everything from a couple hundred $$ gear boxes to $1million gear boxes. Id like to think I know a little bit about lubrication and how it works.

 

Am relaxed & wasn't questioning anyone's lube knowledge or the fact that eventually the unit will have to be dealt with, especially if bushings are an issue. Just throwin out somethin that could get you by for awhile until the whole thing could be addressed if money was an object. I too have a set of poly st rack bushings that need to go in but have opposite money situation at the moment. I'm trying to squeeze some more time outta mine because money will be around later vs. now.......guess the fucking part of my post comes from having to deal with 2 leaking st racks on 2 different 2nd gen trucks with less than 100k in less than 4 yrs and neither being 4x4s so not any kind of stressful life for either of them in terms of the st rack. Hardly impressed or amused by it..........

 

These are a bit more expensive than others out there but I have had good luck with NAPA and the warranty is there -- there are a few details that need to be considered when installing. They have a list of bulletins that detail a host of do's and dont's when installing. One is replace all the hoses. They claim that the hoses deteriorate from the inside and can contaminate the servo valve. The others are common sense and some that are not so common sense. If you follow the instructions you'll cover them all.



NAPA PN -- NRP 262629

Limited Lifetime, Replacement Will Be Issued for Unit that Proves Defective During Normal Use on the Vehicle on Which It Was Originally Installed. Extended Only to the Owner of the Vehicle on Which the Unit is Installed-Not Transferable.

COVERAGE and DURATION
CARDONE Industries warrants that it will provide a free replacement for any NAPA Power Steering Pump,
Rack & Pinion, Gear, Control Valve or Power Cylinder Unit which fails or proves defective during normal use
on the vehicle on which it was originally installed. This warranty does not apply to an NAPA Power Steering
Pump, Rack & Pinion, Gear, Control Valve or Power Cylinder Unit which has been altered, misused, damaged,
installed improperly, installed on a vehicle for which it was not designed, installed using the wrong steering
fluid (use only recommended Original Equipment Power Steering fluid) or installed on a racing or high
performance vehicle. This warranty is extended only to the owner of the vehicle on which the NAPA Power
Steering Pump, Rack & Pinion, Gear, Control Valve or Power Cylinder Unit is installed, for as long as that
person owns the vehicle, and is not transferable.

REMEDY and SERVICE
A replacement for a failed or defective NAPA Power Steering Pump, Rack & Pinion, Gear, Control Valve or
Power Cylinder Unit is available from the point of purchase. The unit must be returned with proof of purchase
and a written description of the failure or defect.

EXCLUSIONS
CARDONE Industries makes no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose and no
other warranties, representations or guarantees, whether written or oral, beyond those contained in this warranty.
The replacement of the unit is the sole and exclusive remedy for the claims of any type (including personal
injury) arising from the failure or defective condition of the NAPA Power Steering Pump, Rack & Pinion,
Gear, Control Valve or Power Cylinder Unit, from CARDONE Industries’ negligence or breach of legal duty,
or otherwise. CARDONE Industries will not reimburse the vehicle owner for the cost of removing or returning
the failed or defective unit, installing the replacement unit or replacing any other parts, or for any other
expenses, charges or damages.

 

My Toyota dealer just quoted me $1,585 (with alignment) to replace mine.

 

Had mine into the dealer to look at the brakes today (they're basically ok, turns out) and they said there's a little fluid in the boots, but not enough to leak in my driveway. Quoted me $1650 for the assy/labor and $125 for an alignment. Surrrrrrprise!
2009 PreRunner, 80k, light abuse only. Gonna hit it with some Lucas since the leak sounds small and let y'all know how it goes

 

Mine is still holding up without any further leakage..............