rack and pinion leaking, suggestions?

[Nick]

Hey everyone,

I crawled under my truck to fix a strange noise (one of the bolts on my endlink went away!) and I happened to notice some stuff on my passenger side rack and pinion boot. I checked the PS fluid and sure enough, it's lower then I last remember it being, but not by much. I think there's no easy way to fix it, when the assembly goes, one would replace it with a re-manufactured unit, which autozone carries, ranging from $388 to $460 (after core refund). Seems a bit expensive to me.

I called my mechanic and he said I can pretty much keep driving till it kicks the bucket, at which point I'll loose power steering, but that's about it, no catastrophic failure. I poked around online and since my leak is minor (for now, anyway) some folks suggest using Prestone ATF Stop Leak or a similar product that Lucas makes.

What are your thoughts on the subject? I'd rather pick up a nice set of lights and forget about this for now.

Thanks a lot, as always!

- Nick

[YotaFun]

Nick I have the same problem,
Mine is a little different, I am leaking where the steering link goes into the steering box on the rack, its interesting I am not loosing fluid,but water is getting in so I think it is exchanging itself.
Go on to TTORA main site or YT or somewhere, and post in the wanted section, Tofer here was parting out a 3rd gen and i picked on up from him.
Guys are usually selling them for half the cost of what they want for a remain.
The one I got is great, just need to replace the one tierod end which i ill use my old one.

I need to do the job soon though cause my steering gets harder and harder each day I drive, I can't wait to hit the trails next weekend...

[Nick]

ATF fluid exchanging itself for water does not sound good ! No good at all, no

I hadn't thought of trolling the forums for a replacement, that's a good suggestion, thanks Eddie :) Anyone with a rack and pinion that they want to sell me? Mine only has 68k on it, but I guess it's time taking it's toll.

Any other thoughts short of replacing it? I think I'll keep using Prestone Stop Leak for now till it goes.

[RunnerUp]

nick, i had this same problem about 2 years ago. i went with the cheapest option i could find at the time, which was an online steering rack from CVU. i think it cost right around 200$ for it + core. well, it was all well and good till about 3 months ago, when i found a few spots of power steering fluid. basically, this remanned with a "7 year warranty" had bit the bucket in 2. i am still fighting with them to get my money back also. just buy the one from advanced auto parts and go on with life, of course, you can wait until yours dies all the way so you dont have to fork the money over now.