Steering Rack Boot Movement - Advice/Help

2004 Tacoma

Looking at replacing my LBJs here soon. Was under the truck prepping the bolts with PB Blaster and noticed there was fluid on the steering rack boot on the driver's side. All the the most inboard end.

I wiped it clean and wanted to test out to see if any steering fluid was noticeably coming out when the rack was moving.

1. There's a friggen zip tie holding the boot in place. And it's not cinched down tight enough to prevent the boot from moving. Watch the very end of the first video, specifically the bottom of the zip tie. You can see that lip of the boot move. It does it in both directions.

2. The passenger side boot was clean, no fluid. It too has a fuggen zip tie holding the boot but it moves even more than the driver's side.

3. No rips or cracks in the fins or boots that I can see.

My question: Is this a major issue? The boots obviously do not come off the rack so are they still doing their job of keeping crud out? Anywhere else I can check to see if there is a steering rack issue? (I have the steel clamps on order and should have them on Tuesday)


I'm hoping the fluid I cleaned off was just spilt oil from an oil filter change (had it done at a shop so who knows how careful they were/n't?).

I guess I'll drive around for a bit and keep checking that one area for more fluid.


Driver's Side:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqHjpTzkObs

Passenger's Side:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkR5CtiPqoM


Thanks for any advice/help

 

yeah zip ties are really pitiful how long have they been like that? If they are holding you are ok, i guess. I would run down and the thin clamps that you screw to tighten. on the oil was it red?, more like transmission colored? if so then sounds like you have a leak. Sorry I'm not much of any help

 

No worries.

No idea how long they’ve been like that. Bought the truck in August.

The rack is reman’d so it was replaced at one point. Based on the look of the zip ties they look fairly new. Not weathered or beat up at all. So hopefully not too long.

No red tint to the fluid/funk at all. Black. Makes me believe it’s oil from a sloppy oil filter change.

But wouldn’t power steering fluid leak from the rack? That doesn’t have a red tint does it?

Or am I completely off entirely?

 

our racks use dexron atf which is red so if it's black and you can actual look in the light/sun and see no red ting to it I believe like you said oil then and not the rack

 

sorry our powersteering system uses dexron atf

 

i think it specifies on the power steering housing cap

 

if the seals are shot on the rack yes it can leak. You said it was recently replaced then it should be good.

 

Im just guessing that it was recently replaced based on the condition of the “reman” sticker and zip ties.

Used a clean white rag. Not a hint of red in the grime/fluid.

Thanks for all the info. Appreciate it.

 

If you have those boots completely dry your doing good.

How many quarts of ATF do you add for 100 miles of driving

Those cable ties mean the boots were removed for some reason and the original clamps were lost and it was to much time to get them from the Local dealer

 

Mine are wet like that but not leaking. Been like that since I bought it in 2011. I think it’s from messy oil changes. Also I wouldn’t worry about the zip ties too much. When I changed my tie rods I used large zip ties as well. I believe that boot should fit into a groove though. Mine don’t move like that. Might want to replace with new and get a cable tie tensioner to get them nice and snug.

 

When I get the OEM steel clamps on there I’ll try to reposition them appropriately. I could see/feel a groove on the rack.