The power steering leak is the rack and pinion ya need a new one

 

Clean everything again and make sure it is just the hose that is leaking. If the hose is leaking, you will likely have to replace the entire metal & rubber line. If the sway bar is tight and makes no noise when you try to wiggle it, it is fine.

 

i will clean everything again then. what if both the boot and the hose get greasy when i check?

the sway bar seemed pretty sturdy when i tried moving it yesterday so that's good news i guess.

 

so after cleaning the whole area up and driving around for a few weeks, it seems its not the boot leaking. its the actual power steering fluid line right around that hose on the bottom. i know greedy toyota doesn't sell the hose by itself and i have to buy the entire lower line, but is there a way to use a third party hose and just replace the existing one? has anyone done this?

 

but is there a way to use a third party hose and just replace the existing one?

Sure, it can be done that way. But why risk it still leaking in a couple months. Either get the part from Toyota or find a place that can repair / replace hydraulic hoses, and have it done right, they are out there. Just google hydraulic hose shop. Sometimes their prices will surprise you in a good way.

 

It's just a hose and hose clamps unless otherwise specified.

 

i don't think any hose will work though, no? i asked at AutoZone today and they were clueless which hose to use for steering fluid.

 

do you just need these?

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Amazon.com: Dorman 979-108 Power Steering Return Hose Compatible with Select Toyota Models : Automotive

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yes, one of those hoses. also a hose coming from the reservoir down to the line. however, i took @Pvt-Public advice and found a hose shop nearby. i measured the metal supply lines with an electronic caliper and they were 10mm, which converts to 13/32", luckily the guy had the exact hose. bought 3 feet of that for $6. going to give it a shot this week at replacing and will report back.

 

i replaced the hose coming from the reservoir today along with the one going over the control arm on the bottom. used a hand squeeze pump with two hoses to drain the fluid from the reservoir (i truly hate those pumps). removing the hose from the reservoir end was pretty much impossible so i ended up cutting it along the length and splitting it, then removing it. taking that same hose off the metal line below was pretty easy. slipped a piece of GM hose 13/32" inner diameter and it fit like a glove. with the reservoir empty, i removed the lower hose down by the control arm. removed only the lower end of the hose initially to drain the fluid out before replacing with a new piece. took about 10 minutes for it all to drain in the pan. wiggled the new hose on there. reused the clamps. with the car on jacks, i filled up the reservoir with maxlife atf. without turning the engine, i turned the wheels from left to right and back about 20 times to get the fluid into the line from the reservoir and get the air out. filled in more fluid to the cold max line. turned on the car, the fluid got eaten up some more in the system. note: i did not turn the steering wheel while the car was running this time. turned the car off, topped off the fluid in the reservoir and then did about another 20 left to right and back turns of the wheels. started the car again and the fluid remained at the same level. took for a test drive, everything looked and felt good. no extra air noise in the system, no leaks thus far from either replaced hose.

to make more room for removing the hose by the reservoir i took off the dog bone mount and the little aluminum block on the side of the engine that the mount is mounted to.