2005 rack & pinion boot slight leak

[raleighcam]

2005 SE, 3.3L engine, 93k miles, no prior problems.
I was giving the car a good inspection, prior to having the timing belt/water pump replaced tomorrow at an independent shop with a good reputation. I had the wheels off checking the brakes- they are original and getting thin so I'll have that done too if they can get both jobs done in one day. Then I noticed the slight wet spot on the right side boot of the steering unit. Have no idea how long it's been seeping. It's not leaking much, and the reservoir is just now at the add mark. No fluid has been added yet since day one. My question is- can I likely live with this slow leak for a while? The boot didn't look torn, but I didn't get real close since I'm not trusting my life to a $30 dollar jack. The car has been so reliable I think I want to keep it for another few years. I'm spring for the repair but would like to wait a while if I safely can. A couple oz. of fluid is cheap.

[Donald E. George]

I would have the PS fluid changed[I think it probably takes Dexron 3] New fluid may promote slight seal swelling. Those seals see about 1200 psig when the steering wheel is moved off center and all seals seep some fluid. Maybe this will get you by for another year or two. Regards

[Zembonez]

The boot is a dust boot. It doesn't actually have anything to do with sealing the unit (just there to keep the dirt out). There is a seal on the actual rack that is leaking. If you keep an eye on it, you should be OK to continue driving it. The leak will likely gradually worsen but it should take a while.

[JohnGD]

It may be a bit late, but periodic siphon/refill will help extend the life of the rack. Do maybe 3-4 siphons/refills should get most of the fluid out. It's easier than disconnecting the hose like in DIYs.

Flush out the ATF. Mobil-1 ATF or Walmart SuperTech Mercon-V are alternatives to dino. And add Lucas steering stop leak. Lucas should take care of it for a few years.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/sh....php?p=3699032
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t19334.html

[nabeel24]

I actually have the same exact problem on my 06 Camry SE 4 Cyl. The big problem with me is that, I haven't been able to have the right alignment on the car right since I noticed this. Even if I try and align the steering wheel still won't hold straight. Anyone have any solutions to this..?

[FireLikeIYA]

This happened to me. I actually started to siphon and refill the resevoir before I noticed the torn boot. Some guy on ebay sells the boots and I just replaced it. It has been a year and so far so good.

[JohnGD]

Yeah, there are a lot of abrasive particles in the PS system if the fluid is left in there. Even siphoning and refilling every other oil change is a great help.

Use something better than plain dino. Like Walmart's SuperTech Mercon-V or Mobil-1 synthetic ATF.

[raleighcam]

I had a "moment of clarity" and decided to bite the bullet and have the rack & pinion unit replaced while getting the timing belt kit installed. I realized since I plan to keep the car long term, I needed to get if fixed and being without the car for a day is really inconvenient, so now it's done and I don't have to keep checking the leak. Hopefully it's back to routine maintenance for a long time. One more thing: I had been noticing a "rattling" sort of sound in the steering column that happened when rolling to a stop, only when there was NO left or right force applied to the steering wheel. That's gone now, and the steering seems smoother.
I like the idea of keeping the fluid fresher; wish there was an easier way to do it. Thanks for all the tips/ideas.

[DJAY]

Can you share where did you get the rack and pinion? I am in the same boat as you.

I almost bought one off ebay but it turned out to be 26-2606 (A1) but that is not compatible with my 03 camry LE but just the XLE, SE versions.
Thanks,