Steering Rack Boot ripped. Replace boot, or new rack?

Heya all.

Just doing my usual greasing and fluid top ups. Noticed that my pass steering rack boot is torn.

What would you guys recommend I do?
Replace the boot both sides or new rack?

 

Needs a rack, its leaking. The boot rips because it gets soaked with fluid from inside. There shouldnt be any fluid inside the boot ..

 

How hard is it to change the boots vs. the whole rack?
How long do you plan on keeping the truck?

 

The rack is from 07. It is worn.

 

This right here, though boot rips are typically just an age thing made worse by the fluid in this case. The boot exists to keep dust and debris out and if there's fluid, it's blowing past the seals in the rack. You can do a boot pretty easily as a temporary fix but ultimately you need a rack sooner than later.

 

New rack & installation is like $1,500 for an aftermarket one. A new boot is less. - You can do the new boot and keep an eye on the rack leak, then replace. As long as the steering feels fine, not wandering etc..

 

Do you want to fix the symptom (torn boot) or the real problem (leaking / worn out rack)?

 

Thanks all, there is nothing wrong with the rack other than it leaking a bit.

I got a quote for a new rack from a local shop,
$1,200 rack
$600 labor.
$2,000 incl tax in CAD

seems a bit fair, as its a part that is berried in the sub frame. Will look at my fav shop on his quote.

@b_r_o How does having hydraulic fluid tear a rubber boot?

 

The rack replacement is intensive but doable.

I almost have same situation as you, but my boot is still good. Im thinking about changing the boot, and cycling in some new fluid. Its been leaking for years. Steering feels fine

 

As others have said -- the rack needs to be rebuilt or replaced in the long run. This is not like a CV boot -- it is not supposed to retain fluids. Its only job is to protect the rack seals from debris. Replacing it will not fix the leak -- at best, it is like replacing the bucket beneath a leaking roof.


If you are willing to remove and reinstall the rack yourself, here is the best way to fix it: Take the rack to a good machine shop. They can completely rebuild it for less than the cost of even a shitty reman rack, but you will still have a quality OEM core. You can specify or provide OEM parts if you want, or fancy polyurethane bushings. They will do all the hard stuff for you.

Removing the factory-installed rack is kind of a pain in the ass, you have to unbolt the A/C compressor and wiggle things around... maybe saw thru one of the bolts and buy a new one, I forget. Thereafter, you can put the rack bolts in from below, and it is reasonably easy to install or remove in the future.

I recommend changing out the hose assembly from the rack to the steering pump while you're at it. Mine failed a year or two after the rack did.

You can also add a filter to the steering return line to prolong the life of the new/rebuilt rack.


If you're going to go the shop route, the labor sounds fair to me. But $1200 is lot to pay for a rack alone... I would object unless the price included replacement of all the steering hoses, outer tie rods, and a fancy dinner.

EDIT: I see you are in Canada. The prices seem more reasonable in CAD, still a bit high, but I don't know how much OEM parts cost up there.

 

I'd reboot it and monitor / top off fluid. FWIW mine has been leaking for the past year. I have some Lucas Power Steering stop leak. I am on my 2nd rack and don't see much of a reason for a third. From what I read it's replace the rack or watch and top off the fluid. Any damage is basically isolated to the rack itself. It steers fine and I do have a spare inner tie rod for the inevitable trail failure, but until then, I see no reason to not just top it off from time to time.

 

not really. Rack on RockAuto is around $200.

 

Not all types of rubber compound can come in contact with oil/fluids
Some make the rubber soft and spongy, then it tears easily.
Just like if you had a engine oil leak directly onto a radiator hose. It would get soft and burst.
The steering rack boot doesn't have any pressure behind it but it's always moving..

In regards to the quote, I'd ask if the rack is new or remanufactured. If it's a reman there's no way it's worth 1,200.
A lot of reman steering components like pumps and racks are poor quality. YMMV

 

Replace the boot yourself and keep an eye on the fluid level in the reservoir so you don’t run the pump dry.