forevermemorabl

Does the rack and pinion boot get packed with grease like the axle CV boot? Or do I just let the power steering fluid leak in through the hose line?

Also, my power steering does look dirty...should I flush and refill now, since I am changing my rack and pinion boot?

Fliptard

you don't need to pack it with grease. but putting some in will help the inner tie rod from wearing out too fast. There is to power steering fluid that goes in the little nipple. A hose hooks from one boot to the other to release pressure from one boot to the other while turning.

forevermemorabl

So packing it with some grease will not harm the rack and pinion? Its okay to mix in grease with power steering fluid? I really have no clue on this.

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

PS fluid shouldn't be getting that far...

If you're getting PS fluid in the boot area you're going to need to rebuild the rack.

06531-S0X-A01 is the part number for the PS seal kit for the 2000 Odyssey.


The manual does NOT say anything about packing the boots with grease. If you choose to do so (as I did) you should be sure to use a grease that's compatible with the grease that is pre applied to the inner tie rods and won't break down the rubber in the boots like a petrol based grease will. I used clear silicone grease on mine. very similar to whats on there from Honda.

forevermemorabl

Wait a minute...I thought the hose line that goes down to the rack and pinion boot via the little tab in the boot is for power steering fluid to lubricate the rack and pinion? Isn't that what the hose line is for?

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

LOL, no sir. It's to allow air to flow between boots when the tie rods go in and out. they're tightly sealed at both ends. Air has to escape somehow.

forevermemorabl

Okay, so what is the lubrication that currently resides therein? Is this from a previous packing...whoever put the rack and pinion boot on before? See pictures. Should I clean that rack and pinion with some carb and choke cleaner AND then repack it with some clear silicone grease?

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

As stated, the inner tie rod comes with a good bit of silicone grease where it pivots. It looks like most of that has worn off onto the boot and surrounding area and maybe a LITTLE bit of PS fluid has seeped past the seals but nothing out of the ordinary. Actually that's fairly dry compared to what I'm used to seeing.

Usually looks more like this




I'd just grease the area of the tie rod that pivots and call it a day.


THIS PART


That pic looks like silicone lube of some sort. If your tie rod doesn't have any grease I'd use any silicone grease. If it's an OEM tie rod the new one SHOULD have some clear silicone type lubricant.

forevermemorabl

So, do you think I should grease the actual rack and pinion (as seen in my photo with all the teeth)?

I am replacing the rack and pinion boot and the outer tie rod only. Neither the boot or the tie rod come with grease. I totally agree about getting some clear silicone lubricant! I am just wondering if I should grease the rack and pinion because #1) It seems like it has had grease on it from prior (of course most leak out due to the ripped boot) and #2) The rack and pinion slides back and forth...it would only stand to reason to have this greased, so it is not metal on metal rubbing.

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

BAM Step 3 of a rack rebuild is grease the rack so go for it LOL.



You should put a little grease on the teeth of the rack at least. Mine was kind of rusty and I used some axle grease on it.

The PS fluid SHOULD stay in the blue area on this cutout.

forevermemorabl

I went to Autozone and O'Reilly...they have nothing on their shelves anywhere near called "clear silicone lubricant"! However, I found something you may be talking about on the Napa Auto Parts website. Let me know if this is the stuff you are talking about:

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

You need a grease, not a spray. I got it at AutoZone or Advanced Auto or MAYBE Salvo but they should ALL have silicone grease.

Something more like this.




Sorry if my wording was weird, shoulda just said grease but I didn't want you thinking of traditional grease.



FTR that stuff you posted is EXCELLENT for revitalizing weather stripping around the doors and trunk.

forevermemorabl

Well, here in California, they just don't have that stuff at Autozone or O'Reilly. Autozone out here carries more grease products than O'Reilly's. I also checked the web sites of Autozone, O'Reilly, Pepboys, and Napa Auto Parts...and Napa Auto Parts is the only one that carries it.

forevermemorabl

I checked out another Autozone store...no good AND I checked out a Pep Boys store...no good. I also went to a Napa Auto Parts store and none in stock. Actually, I need to put this all together by tonight. I did purchase something else there that Napa highly recommends for what I am doing. Tell me what you think, considering that I need to put this together by tonight!

burnoutboy

iTrader: (22)

Read the ingredients if it's petroleum based it WILL eat the boots eventually. A lot of greases that are safe for rubber or plastics should say so on the packaging.


If all else fails this should be okay. It's lithium based and it says safe for plastics on it.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=232567_0_0_