Identifying a leaking steering rack

[Matt]

Hello everyone!

Today I was getting under my 2000 Subaru Legacy (110,000 miles) to replace a CV axle with a boot that has disintegrated. I noticed that the boot on the power steering rack was also torn on that side. There’s crap from the CV boot flung all over the underside of the car, and oil splatter from a leaking oil pan that the previous owner’s shop RTV’d instead of finding a proper gasket.

So my question for everyone is, what would the best way to determine if the rack seals are still any good? I picked up a new steering rack boot, but at this point I’m beginning to wonder if maybe I should just replace the rack too…

Thanks everyone!

Matt

Edit: And as a follow up question, assuming the rack seals are gone, what effect is that going to have? Will the car lose power steering or will something catastrophic happen like having the steering completely fail?

Topic

[Austin]

1. Rack can fail, normally you will lose your power steering. Racks normally don’t just fail from leaking.

2. The boots on the inner tie rods will have fluid around them, when rack seals leak 99% of the time that’s where it will leak from. The other place I have seen them leak is from where the rack meets the steering collum.

3. Clean everything off down there, go to your auto parts store and buy a bottle of Universal UV dye and dump it in your power steering, drive it for a few days then shine a black light around your rack and if it’s leaking the fluid will glow.

GL keep us posted.

[Tom]

If your power steering fluid is low, that is a pretty good indication that you are leaking power steering fluid.

[EricTheCarGuy]

I normally stick a pocket screwdriver under the outer lip of the boot to see if fluid comes out to determine if the seals have gone bad. If you see fluid come out, it’s a pretty good indication that those seals are gone. If you don’t see fluid, then they’re probably fine.

As for when it fails. The only time you’ll really know is at slow speeds. Power steering actually shuts off when you get up to speed because it isn’t required. That said, check for leaks first. More info here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/finding-and-fixing-leaks

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Matt]

Well as it turned out it was just crud from the CV joint, and the steering system has no leaks. The ATF in the power steering resevoir was brown, and didn’t look like it had been changed in the 14 years the car has been on the road.

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice!

Matt

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