Rack & pinion woes
08-30-02, 03:35 PM
#1
I Sold My Car 2 the Devil
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Duncanville, Tx
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rack & pinion woes
I have a leak coming out from my drivers side tie rod boot and I'm looking for someone that has either fixed this problem before or know how to fix it. It only leaks under pressure but when it does leak its like a little stream coming out of the hole I have in the boot. Please help.
TIA,
Ryker
TIA,
Ryker
08-30-02, 04:01 PM
#2
The Ricer Eliminator
Ryker,
There could be a couple creating your current situation. The easiest thing would be that you need a new boot. They most often go just from the mileage you put on. There is also a breather on the top of the dif., and after some miles, the breather clogs. When the dif. can't breath, the pressure from the fluid heating up, swirling around, and the air expanding as it gets hotter, can put pressure on the boot and cause a leak(the boot is the weakest part of the whole assembly back there, so that is where the pressure goes). These can supposedly be done by any competant mechanic. They're not expensive either($22). The next thing could be that you need a new axle clip(i'm not sure if they call it that). Supposedly the axle is held in by a cotter pin, and if that goes, your axle will be moving more than it's supposed too, thus making it hard for the boot to keep sealing. The pin costs $2.
While you have the boot off, check the condition of your axle, as this could also cause a leak. If it's broken, it's going to move around, and leak some. I doubt that your problem is this though.
May your luck be better than mine, as I just found out that my axle is broken.
Good luck
Jim
There could be a couple creating your current situation. The easiest thing would be that you need a new boot. They most often go just from the mileage you put on. There is also a breather on the top of the dif., and after some miles, the breather clogs. When the dif. can't breath, the pressure from the fluid heating up, swirling around, and the air expanding as it gets hotter, can put pressure on the boot and cause a leak(the boot is the weakest part of the whole assembly back there, so that is where the pressure goes). These can supposedly be done by any competant mechanic. They're not expensive either($22). The next thing could be that you need a new axle clip(i'm not sure if they call it that). Supposedly the axle is held in by a cotter pin, and if that goes, your axle will be moving more than it's supposed too, thus making it hard for the boot to keep sealing. The pin costs $2.
While you have the boot off, check the condition of your axle, as this could also cause a leak. If it's broken, it's going to move around, and leak some. I doubt that your problem is this though.
May your luck be better than mine, as I just found out that my axle is broken.
Good luck
Jim
09-03-02, 11:16 AM
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Royal Oak, MI
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I always hate to post bad news, but... If there is red fluid leaking out of that boot, it is most likely Power Steering fluid, and when power steering fluid leaks out of your tie rod boots, it means that your rack seals are shot.
It sounds like you are going to need a new rack-and-pinion steering gear. Most rack seals on cars aren't servicable, once the seal breaks, the entire system is contaminated and they will just break again due to the contamination.
Hope this helps...
It sounds like you are going to need a new rack-and-pinion steering gear. Most rack seals on cars aren't servicable, once the seal breaks, the entire system is contaminated and they will just break again due to the contamination.
Hope this helps...
12-13-02, 10:16 PM
#6
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
rack an pinion leaks
Please understand that I am not trying to be a smart *** here. I am just wondering why Mazda sells a seal kit for the rack and pinion units if it doesn't work. The seal kit sells for about $120.00. My rack and pinion is gushing fluid out of the driver's side boot. I don't really want to spend $1400.00 at Mazda or $500.00 at Autozone for a new or rebuilt rack and pinion. I just know that the hoses will be next and they are about another $200.00. If the parts are disassembled and cleaned thoroughly, I would think that just a seal kit would fix the problem.
Has anyone attempted this?
BEFORE you start telling me to just dump the power steering, remember that my unit won't hold fluid. The rack would probably be dry after about four turns. I would have to get the unit to hold fluid before I could loop the hoses and scrap the pump.
Has anyone attempted this?
BEFORE you start telling me to just dump the power steering, remember that my unit won't hold fluid. The rack would probably be dry after about four turns. I would have to get the unit to hold fluid before I could loop the hoses and scrap the pump.
12-13-02, 11:41 PM
#7
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: OC CA
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need to replace or reseal the rack. Resealing the rack requires special tools. You will not be able to replace all the seals without them!! If you leaking from the drivers side than it's the lower input seal or the inner rack seal, both require complete disassembly to replace. Why couldn't it be the pass. side? That would have made things simpler.
Trending Topics
12-14-02, 05:13 AM
#8
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My luck just doesn't run that way. Thankfully, after posting my problem, I looked on eBay and found someone that was parting out an RX7. He had a manual rack listed. I bought it for $78.02 plus shipping. I looked at some of the suppliers that were listed here and their price for a used rack was about $200.00. I figured that buying a used power rack and pinion was about like buying a used condom. (It might work for a while, but would probably fail in the end and the whole thing would be a mess.)
Now I can fix my problem and clean up the engine compartment at the same time. Another plus is that I won't have to take a beating from the other members for leaving the power steering on the car.
Thanks for the reply to the post.
Now I can fix my problem and clean up the engine compartment at the same time. Another plus is that I won't have to take a beating from the other members for leaving the power steering on the car.
Thanks for the reply to the post.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joel(PA)
Group Buy & Product Dev. FD RX-7
8
10-04-15 06:07 PM
joel(PA)
Race Car Tech
0
10-01-15 10:25 AM