Steering Rack 1986.5 Turbo

[North Idaho Supra]

I have a 86.5 supra turbo 5 spd. I have had this car for about 7 years i do all the work on it myself the steering rack has a really bad leak so i disconnected it when i first got the car. the car is a pain in the @ to drive w/o power steering. So my Question is what will be the easyest way to get it out , should i lift the motor up a bit? i have had the motor out on several occasions but didnt have the money for the rack now im kicking my self for not waiting till i had everything. Any advice is greatly appreciated..

[bgrieger]

If you can gain an inch or so the rack is pretty easy to remove.

[North Idaho Supra]

So i got everything off tie rod ends etc...... and i noticed a cut in one of the pressure lines, so i put it all back together hopefully thats the problem ..

[North Idaho Supra]

Got it all back together and i still have a leak. it is nearly impossible to see the lines on the back of the pump to check if they are leaking.. so blah back to square one i guess and pull the whole rack.

[bgrieger]

The lines - all of them - are common leak sources. A clogged reservoir screen will also cause the reservoir to overflow too, although that one usually comes with some additional whining noises (though not always).

Check the simple stuff first...they are a lot cheaper than a rack!

[North Idaho Supra]

ok. it is a really bad leak after starting the car and attempting to bleed the system there is a steady drip. i just wish the lines were more accessible. if i look down there is some fluid on the top of the pump but the majority is coming from the crossmember area

[bgrieger]

fluid on the pump top is almost guaranteed to be the reservoir screen or one of the lines into it. I'm afraid you'll have to pull it all out and take a look. The ATF and 20+ years of heat tend to harden the lines and they crack and don't seal any longer...

[North Idaho Supra]

Thats the plan for tomorrow thanks i looked at the the drain line from the bottom of the resivour and there was a little bit of fluid on the top of the hose. so there is a screen in the resevour ? how do you get to it? if the screen is plugged how would that make it leak? thanks for your help with this i appreciate it !

[bgrieger]

The screen serves to collect big grit and acts as an air seperator. The fluid returning from the rack goes to the top port, which is above the screen, the fluid then gets gravity fed to the pump out the bottom. If the screen collects grunge, silt, general crap, metal shavings etc, and the oil breaks down over the years into a varnish or gummy tar like substance, the holes get too small to flow and the return flow overwhelms the ability to flow past the screen. I've had some luck with practically soaking it in either brake cleaner or degreaser (loosen the gumy oil and the bits come out easier, but you have to really be careful to rinse it well and ensure there is none left in there after.

Another little thing that might help too is to replace rubber seal for the cap. You can go to a plumbing asile at the local home depot or other and find a replacement there.

[Jeeves]

The screen is non-removable, it's built into the container. I had to remove the reservoir, empty it out, clean it to high hell, then ran water through mine in reverse to push stuff back through the screen.