Cars & Trucks Logo
Posted on Feb 16, 2009
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

Must add power steering fluid every two days.

Rack pinion covers torn and some parts of it are missing. Can I or non professional replace rack pinion cover and will this fix my problem?

1 Answer

John Quinn

Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Vice President:

An expert whose answer got voted for 100 times.

  • Expert 286 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 16, 2009
John Quinn
Expert
Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Vice President:

An expert whose answer got voted for 100 times.

Joined: Jan 13, 2009
Answers
286
Questions
4
Helped
149585
Points
802

Hi

Yes you can replace the steering rack rubber boots OK.

But if you are loosing fluid, it sounds like the internal seals are leaking, allowing the fluid to fill up these boots, and subsequently bursting them, so you will be back to square one.

Better to fit an exchange steering rack !

Good luck !

A FixYa rating would be Nice !......... Thanks.....John.

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

2helpful
1answer

Power steering hose keeps breaking, even when replaced by high pressure hoses. Replacing rack and pinion does not help either.

A bad seal in the rack and pinion would have caused low pressure from fluid by-passing the seal. This also would have caused noticeably increased effort to steer the vehicle. Excessively high pressure would indicate an issue between the power steering pump and the rack, and since the hoses have been replaced I would focus on the pump. PS, find a real mechanic, not a parts changer.
tip

Improve power steering when rack and pinion starts binding.

One of the things you can try on your car before replacing the rack and pinion if your steering starts to bind or hard steering is to treat your PS fluid. I bought a 12 oz. container of Lucas oil, drained the exising PS fluid from my resevoir with a kitchen baster and replaced the fluid with the container of Lucas oil. Within a few days, the steering improvement was quite noticable. I did still need to replace the rack and pinion since it was worn and binding up but the Lucas oil really improved the steering ease and performance. I'd suggest this step first before any major part replacements, like PS pump or the rack and pinion. It may help save $$ The bottle of Lucas oil was $11.00 at a local auto parts outlet.
3helpful
1answer

Is it possible for power steering fluid to get into the engine and mix with the oil? I am loosing fluid and there are no visible leaks, the engine oil and filter was recently changed and now has turne

No, the power steering is entirely a separate and sealed system, wholly external to the engine. The power steering pump pushes the fluid through a high pressure hose into the rack and pinion-the steering gear mounted below and behind the engine-and holds pressure within the rack that enables power assisted steering. At the same end where the power steering fluid hose enters the gear will be a fitting for a return line back to the fluid reservoir. These two hoses are usually routed close together at least part of the way, some may even be held together with brackets. Leaks could develop at the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the two hoses to and from the rack and pinion, or the seals inside the rack and pinion may have failed. You should be able to find the leak-it will only leak to the outside-to check the rack and pinion for leaks, right where your tie rods come out of the gear and go to the wheels for steering, will be a small rubber boot encasing the tie rod and the end of the rack assembly-on both ends is a boot and a tie rod-peel back the rubber boot from the gear ass\'y, it should be dry. If a lot of fluid, the seals in the rack and pinion are gone. It will have to be replaced.
Hopefully you will find a leaking hose or fractured reservoir, but keep looking, air flow may be blowing the leaking fluid back and under the car. Good luck, hope it\'s not the rack and pinion.
0helpful
1answer

How to remove rack and pinion from 99 chrysler lhs

There are few help links showing exact accurate procedure to replace Rack and Pinion. Click the link below and follow the procedure:-----
Pinion Seal Replace on Dodge Dakota? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/04/pinion-seal-replace-on-dodge-dakota.html

-----------

How to Replace a Rear Pinion Seal.
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-replace-rear-pinion-seal.html
------------

How to replace Power steering rack and pinion gear on Chevy Silverado 2500 HD? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-replace-power-steering-rack-and.html

----------
How to replace Power Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Acura Car Models? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-power-rack-and-pinion.html

-----------
How to replace power rack and pinion steering gear on Toyota cruiser? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-replace-power-rack-and-pinion.html

----------


How to replace Power Rack and Pinion Steering Gear on Acura Car Models? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-power-rack-and-pinion.html


------------
Front Drive Pinion Seal Removal on Ford Explorer? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/front-drive-pinion-seal-removal-on-ford.html

-------------
How to Replace Driveshaft, Pinion Flange & Seal?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-replace-driveshaft-pinion-flange.html

------------


How to Replace Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear On 2007 Ford Taurus? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-replace-power-rack-pinion.html


----------
How to Remove Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear on Ford Windstar? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-remove-power-rack-pinion.html

-----------

Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear replacing details for Buick Park Avenue and Pontiac Bonneville

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/power-rack-pinion-steering-gear.html

-------------


How to Replace Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear on Mercedes Benz Truck? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-replace-power-rack-pinion.html


---------
How to replace Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear on Toyota 4Runner? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-replace-power-rack-pinion_27.html

-----------

Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear Replacing on Toyota Land Cruiser & Sequoia? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/power-rack-pinion-steering-gear.html

----------
Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear Removal on Toyota RAV4? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/03/power-rack-pinion-steering-gear-removal.html

----------
How to Replace Power Rack & Pinion Steering Gear on Toyota Sienna? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/03/how-to-replace-power-rack-pinion.html

------------
These details will help.
Thanks.



0helpful
1answer

My 2003 ford focus lost it's power steering, mechanic replaced the rack and pinion thing - lost steering again and now the mechanic says it is the power steering pump. The rack and pinion was replaced...

if the rack and pinion was not leaking or causing problems. then he may of made a wrong move! if the rack was fine before, and you just lost power steering. then it is most likely the power steering pump or the lines that go from rack to the pump. good-day ! if a rack goes bad, you will get a bad steering problem or just bad steering.
4helpful
1answer

Leakage in racket pin

If your rack and pinion steering unit is leaking power steering fluid, you most likely have blown a seal in the unit. These are gennerally non-repaiable. Replace the rack and pinion unit. Not an easy job, but an intermediate knowledge home mechanic can do it.
0helpful
3answers

I went to drive my car to work this morning and lost the power steering feels like it locked up the leak of power steering fluidf is leaking from the rack and pinion not pump

Hi and welcome to FixYa!

If that's the case then the oil seals of the rack and pinion should be replaced. If the seals are worn out it tends to leak and can definitely feel a loss of power. If it still leaks even after the replacement then the rack and pinion should be replaced.

There are instances that after oil seal replacement it still leaks it's because that the rack and pinion has severe damage.

Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!
1helpful
2answers

How do you fix the power steering of a 2006 chevy malibu, when drive the steering wheel locks up and its very hard to turn.

a few possibilities.
Low power steering fluid. check for correct amount on pump filler measureing guage.

Loose power steering belt. check to see if the belt slips over the power steering pulley while trying to turn the steering wheel. may need an assistant.

last, but most expensive. Rack and pinion steering bar is defective and needs replacing.
3helpful
3answers

There is power steering fluid dripping from the passenger side boot covering the rod that connects to the wheel. Could a simple replacement of the boot be the fix, or is there a problem with the main unit...

No, the boot only keeps dust out of the inner tie rod joint--it is not intended to hold back fluid. The rack will have to be rebuilt with new seals. Sorry. :o(
0helpful
1answer

95 Olds Achieva steering just ceased up tonight with no warning. Could it be that it is low in fluid?

If it is hard to turn it could be the fluid is low. If you can't turn the steering wheel go underneath the lower rack and pinion right were the steering shaft bolts to the rack and pinion there should be a round silver cap looks like a plug if that cap is missing the pinion bearings are broken and the rack and pinion are locked up replace your rack and pinion
Not finding what you are looking for?

451 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Nissan Experts

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Thomas Perkins
Thomas Perkins

Level 3 Expert

15088 Answers

Arnie Burke
Arnie Burke

Level 3 Expert

7339 Answers

Are you a Nissan Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...