cmshbsi3

hello everyone .. i really need some help here. I have a 1992 civic Si and the problem i have is that i just bought this car and noticed that the passenger side power steering boot is ripped bad and leaking ps fluid. I wanted to know what i need to do. Do i have to buy a new rack ?? i know that are expensive and hard to put on. Ive been reading on here about looping the power steering rack. so my question is, can i loop the rack with a torn boot or do i need to replace the boot to loop the system... or am i completely screw and need to buy a new ps rack.. advice and clarity on what to do would be very very appreciated!!!

Froth

Just replace the boot, shouldn't cost much but you will need to get it aligned after replacing the boot as you need to remove the outer tie-rod from the inner tie-rod to slip the boot on.

-Froth

courtney42

I have the same problem on my 94 si del sol.
I was under the impression that i had to replace the whole rack?
When i priced it at autozone it was $189 plus a core.
Is it easy to replace the boot only?
It doesn't look hard to replace the whole rack. look here:http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...es.htm#hd1-1-2
I thought the fluid leaking meant a bigger problem? What say you guys?

Pothole987

yes, i believe most people would say the seals in the rack are gone. i replaced mine with a junkyard one with low KMS. works awesome.

MonkeyMagic

leaking fluid = bad

you will probably be looking at getting a new rack

courtney42

Thats what i thought because the boots just hold grease in there. Fluid is coming from something else broken. What will happen if i keep driving on it?

Has anyone replaced the rack themselves? Is it hard?
it doesn't look to bad. . . .

ps. . what is "looping the powers steering rack" ?

MonkeyMagic

looping the power steering rack is what ppl do to make a p/s rack non-p/s. you eliminate the pump and lines and just loop the lines on the rack.

the boots don't hold grease in... they just keep dust off the pieces as they slide from one side to the other. the fluid should be completely contained by the seals inside the rack.

i've never personally replace a rack, but i've heard it kinda sucks.

cmshbsi3

should i look into buying a seal kit for my rack and put on a new passenger side boot which would contain the leak and then try looping the rack ?? or do i need to buy a new rack?? mine is leaking pretty bad. will this damage my ps rack if i am driving it still?

courtney42

I need to know this one too. The steering is not going to suddenly lock up will it? how dire is replacing this part?


I have the same leak . From what i have read you have to take the whole rack off to replace the seals anyway, so i'm just going to replace the whole rack with a used one. Saves me the trouble of rebuilding the seals.

courtney42

bump
any one?

Former User

As mentioned, the boot functions only as a cover to keep the end rack area clean.

The answer to the OP's question depends on whether the fluid leak is major or minor. If the leak is major, then you must replace the rack. If the leak is very minor, that is the fluid level in the PS reservoir only rarely needs to be topped off, then just replace the boot.

L8APX

So I thought my steering rack was leaking because the boot is split and it generated little spots on the floor below, but whenever I check the PS fluid it is filled past the max. I remember putting a lil extra in before a trackday once, and it hasn't gone down even a milimeter in several trackdays.

I then thought that maybe it was just grease in the boot sort of melting and running out. (it's stopped spotting the garage floor, so I figured it the grease must be completely gone now)

Where to buy a new boot? Autozone? Honda?

zdub907

monkey magic you talked about looping the rack to make it non ps do you know if there is a write up on this topic i am deleting the ps and need help

b63phatch

i did the rack on my hatch when the motor was out. def wouldnt want to do it when its in. that wont be a fun job.