RJB

I will be resealing my power steering rack in a couple of weeks. Since I will have it out, what else should I do while I am up there?

I also seem to have an oil leak on the driver's side of the engine. Ideas on the source?

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Der Cupmeister

Replace the tie rod ends if they are worn. The oil leak could be from a lot of places on the drivers side, upper balance shaft cover, upper balance shaft seals, oil pump, anywhere along the pan gasket. You could clean the area up and then maybe get a better idea of where it is coming from.

Travis - sflraver

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need any help with the reseal just drop me an email. I think I have fielded about every question you can ask about power steering reseals over the last few months.

Waterguy

While you are doing the reseal, check your PS hoses. When you drain your PS fluid, run it through a filter (paper towel, etc.) to see if there are any metal bits from the PS pump. Apparently a common mode of rack seal failure is PS pump failing and adding metallic debris to the fluid. If you find metal, replace your pump so that you won't have to do your seals again later. In any event, flush your pump and lines with fresh ATF fluid before installing the resealed rack.

Do inner and outer tie rod ends (at 103k miles my inners were worn, my outers were fine.) Check for play in the universals of the steering shaft. Check or replace sway bar bushings. Check ball joints.

Another source of oil leak on left side is dip stick tube o-ring; replace this. If you have an oil pan gasket leak, replace the rod bearings and oil pickup o-ring at the same time. Good time to replace your oil cooler seals if you haven't already. The list goes on.

EDIT: How could I forget the big one? MOTOR MOUNTS. Measure their installed height; if less than 60 mm, replace them. If only the right side has failed (like mine), do them both while you are in there.

RJB

Thanks for the suggestions and I will definitely check into all of these.

One question that I am sure seems silly, but I am not well versed in this, how would I know if the tie rod ends are worn? Further, if they are, how would I replace them?

Waterguy

In order to remove the steering rack, you must remove the outer tie rod ends from the steering knuckles. I used a small gear puller, and they popped out easily. When they are out, check the rubber boots for cracks or splits, and check for slack or play in the tie rod ends. When you have the rack off, you can pull and wiggle the tie rods to check the inner tie rod ends (where they bolt to the steering rack under the rubber boots.) For procedures on pulling the steering rack, see Clark's Garage.

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