Dealer says they noted oil/ fluid around the boot of my steering rack.

The truck has 50k miles, it's a 2017 limited 4x4 AT.

Is this cause for concern? Is this a problem that's known to happen with these trucks?

I've never experienced any steering issues or noise. The only complaint I have with the truck is a weird clunk/ click when I'm slowly rolling to a stop, or slowly creeping forward from a stop. Feels almost like a u joint going bad, or like there's a missing tooth on a gear. I'll be holding the brake with steady pressure, and right before I come to a full stop the truck lurches slightly forward. Same thing happens from a dead stop when I'm easing off the brakes.

So two questions I guess. 1. How worries should I be about the oil around the steering rack, and 2. What's up with the weird clunk/ lurch while low-speed braking?

 

Yes, the rack and pinions leak slowly with age, it's not a big deal until the oil is passing quickly and you see drops out the boots.

The clunk could be a binding drive shaft or sticking brake pads, hard to say.

 

Lucas Power Steering Stop Leak.

I've used it on a couple of vehicles (1998 Mazda 626 and 2002 Dogkota) It cured the Mazda and reduced the Dodge to a very slow seep, it might have stopped eventually but I sold the piece of shit.

You'll hear all kinds of reasons not to use it from people that never tried it, but will tell you it causes global warming, kills babies and maybe spreads Covid.

 

This is a great option. If it doesn't help you you'll be swapping it out anyway

 

I have the same situation with mine. 80k miles and I had a loud crack/clunk when turning left into driveways a long time ago (40k?). Toyota played “we need more time to figure it out, give us more money for evaluation” and a tireshop told me it was the R&P and not to worry. I also have the leaking on the boots now, not sure when it started.

Has anyone ever released a higher quality rack and pinion for these trucks? Is it even possible? Just curious since the guys at the shop seemed to say it was weak and shitty. Maybe an opportunity here for aftermarket?