Leaky Rack and Pinion

[TanTop94]

I have an 89 GT with a leaking rack and pinion and Im trying to get some input as it seems the culprit is just worn/ rotted bushing. It still works perfect, no loud squeels, smooth steering, blah blah.

Yes, it is alittle dirty under here but Ill try to point out where it is exactly leaking from, hell Ive never messed with a rack and pinion before so please excuse my ignorance.



This is where I have determined the fluid to be leaking from, my crude picture should really help lol. I believe it is this bushing that has cracked in the back and is allowing it to leak but I want your guys input to whether or not I can try to fix it with a bushing or have to replace the whole rack and pinion.

Thanks!

 

[TanTop94]

Hmm I think I just posted up saying a mount bushing is causing the leak...fail. Well back under the car I go to figure out where this thing is leaking from.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...ck=Search_02875_1133952_-1&pt=02875&ppt=C0031

 

[MustangChris]

not sure on the 5.0s, but the oil filter location on the 4.6s are directly above that area. when you change the oil it all falls on that stuff. Then it gets dirty and looks like the picture you posted.


You should get under there and clean the **** out of it. I suggest taking ramps to a drive-up car wash and hitting it with a power washer (unless you have a power washer at home) then get under it (in your driveway where its dry. lol) and clean it good with Purple Power. Once it's clean you can try and track down where the leak is coming from.

That indeed is a mount-bushing - as you pointed out, theres no fluid in those

it could be a o-ring in the lines running into the rack, which is located near that bushing as well... You just need to clean it and monitor it to try and hunt it down.

 

[CC'S95GT]

I'm glad you posted a retraction about the mount bushing leaking. LOL. Its probable the seal is worn out on the rack and leaking down and dripping off the rack mount.

 

[Slykin]

It's fairly common for the racks to leak into the inner tie rod boots if you use anything other than ATF. DO NOT USE powersteering fluid.. it eats the seals. It's also very common for their to be a leak at the high pressure fitting on the powersteering pump due to the o-rings failing I believe.

 

[TanTop94]

not sure on the 5.0s, but the oil filter location on the 4.6s are directly above that area. when you change the oil it all falls on that stuff. Then it gets dirty and looks like the picture you posted.


You should get under there and clean the **** out of it. I suggest taking ramps to a drive-up car wash and hitting it with a power washer (unless you have a power washer at home) then get under it (in your driveway where its dry. lol) and clean it good with Purple Power. Once it's clean you can try and track down where the leak is coming from.

That indeed is a mount-bushing - as you pointed out, theres no fluid in those

it could be a o-ring in the lines running into the rack, which is located near that bushing as well... You just need to clean it and monitor it to try and hunt it down.

I know it's terrible with how dirty it is:/ good idea though with the car wash lol. I think your right with it being an oring.

I'm glad you posted a retraction about the mount bushing leaking. LOL. Its probable the seal is worn out on the rack and leaking down and dripping off the rack mount.

Yeah lmao! I was rushing to find the problem and wasn't really realizing what I was posting. It's my Dads 89 and I was trying to save him money from having to buy a new rack and pinion, but damn he was quick on the draw.

It's fairly common for the racks to leak into the inner tie rod boots if you use anything other than ATF. DO NOT USE powersteering fluid.. it eats the seals. It's also very common for their to be a leak at the high pressure fitting on the powersteering pump due to the o-rings failing I believe.

We have always run ATF in it, never had a problem with it until we went to take it out for a ride then it just started pudding fluid right in the garage. I guess that's how problems are though, well Im still going to track the leak down and see if I can replace the oring just to get this piece to last as long as possible.