Help identifying part (looks like torn boot)

vertigo89 · Apr 16, 2016

So i smelled what i thought was coolant earlier and popped the hood to see that what looks like a torn boot, but if you look at the pictures, its obviously not a CV Axle joint (it connects directly to the frame of the car) although the basic structure is the same. Do you guys know what part this is? I included a few pics of it as well as a reference picture to show where it is in relation to the rest of the car. Also, do you know how expensive it would be to replace and/or how hard it would be to get to? Im thinking i might just get the boot, for whatever the part is called, because it looks like its going to be extremely hard to get to otherwise to actually replace the whole thing. Alternatively, I only drive it once a week, for maybe 45 minutes total, so its a low-mileage vehicle to say the least. Is it worth replacing if it would cost an exorbitant amount to do so?

o0GuitarKid0o · Apr 16, 2016

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/how-to-remove-and-rebuild-the-power-steering-rack.226656/

vertigo89 · Apr 16, 2016

o0GuitarKid0o said:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/how-to-remove-and-rebuild-the-power-steering-rack.226656/

First of all, im not nearly handy enough with a wrench to even attempt that. Secondly, are you sure thats what it is? I just drove it around for about 30 minutes, and when i checked it again, it was dry as a bone. Wouldnt there be grease in the boot that engine heat wouldnt dissipate? This points to it either being coolant or possibly even water that made its way in (it rained all day today). Thoughts?

o0GuitarKid0o · Apr 16, 2016

I'm very certain Your leaking power steering fluid through the boot (bet you have a tear , follow the line and see if it goes to your pump.

Check your power steering level also

Possible someone spilt oil on it because it's roughly below the oil fill cap

Could even be rain water

vertigo89 said:
First of all, im not nearly handy enough with a wrench to even attempt that. Secondly, are you sure thats what it is? I just drove it around for about 30 minutes, and when i checked it again, it was dry as a bone. Wouldnt there be grease in the boot that engine heat wouldnt dissipate? This points to it either being coolant or possibly even water that made its way in (it rained all day today). Thoughts?

vertigo89 · Apr 16, 2016

Well obviously i hope its not the entire power steering rack, but if it is, i think id just leave it and check the power steering fluid every so often. Would power steering fluid dissipate from heat in the engine though?

PlanZero · Apr 16, 2016

I don't know jack about 1gs but I want to know what that is. Your broad shot pic sucks, but it looks like it's perpendicular to the firewall? Is this a dust boot for the steering yoke? If that's what it is, there's no reason why you would be spurting fluid out of that boot. Check your fluid, and if you see it again taste it haha. Looks clear to me.

vertigo89 · Apr 16, 2016

PlanZero said:
I don't know jack about 1gs but I want to know what that is. Your broad shot pic sucks, but it looks like it's perpendicular to the firewall? Is this a dust boot for the steering yoke? If that's what it is, there's no reason why you would be spurting fluid out of that boot. Check your fluid, and if you see it again taste it haha. Looks clear to me.

I have no idea what it is. The other guy seems to think its a leak in the power steering rack, but i need to do some more looking before i come to a conclusion. Yes, its perpendicular to the firewall, where the "front" of the car body starts. The fluid seemed to be clear to me as well. I got some on my fingers and it seemed to be either water or coolant. Definitely wasnt grease, and didnt seem like PS fluid (which is more brown/red, right?)

Dsmkauai · Apr 17, 2016

It is the boot for the steering yoke. There is a seal under it for the rack that could be leaking. Pull the boot up and Check it out. Could be you have a leak from above that spot or a line for the steering rack is squirting on it. Can you tell what kind of fluid it was/is? Could be brake fluid?

kodylk08 · Apr 17, 2016

Start the car and have someone look at the lines/rack while you are turning the steering wheel. If it is squirting I would think you would be able to see it during operation of the power steering rack.

Could also just be fluid leaking from either the brake or clutch master cylinder. Are any of the fluids low?

o0GuitarKid0o · Apr 17, 2016

Start the car and turn the wheel all the way to the right than all the way to the left 10 times. After that's done see if fluid appears in that area again

(Check the fluid level first)

Are you low on any fluid at all like oil , coolent, brake fluid , power steering fluid,
and the most unlikely (windshield washer fluid) since the windshield sprayers are in that general location,
The rubber hoses can deteriorate that go to the spray nozzles on the hood

your gonna have to keep on looking for a leak in that general area personally I would assume it's power steering fluid since it's on the rack but it's not impossible for other things To leak on it

I can't tell from the pictures you posted if something like brake fluid is leaking onto it.
your going to have to look really hard and feel for fluid above the boot or take more pictures LOL

What year vehicle ?
Anything important we should know?

Dsmkauai is right there's a internal seal that would cause fluid to leak there
If this is the problem than you must buy a new refurbished rack or buy a seal kit and rebuild it yourself
Or just keep topping up the fluid until one day your steering fails

If you run it dry you'll damage the rack

You could even do a manual rack swap

vertigo89 · Apr 17, 2016

o0GuitarKid0o said:
Start the car and turn the wheel all the way to the right than all the way to the left 10 times. After that's done see if fluid appears in that area again

(Check the fluid level first)

Are you low on any fluid at all like oil , coolent, brake fluid , power steering fluid,
and the most unlikely (windshield washer fluid) since the windshield sprayers are in that general location,
The rubber hoses can deteriorate that go to the spray nozzles on the hood

your gonna have to keep on looking for a leak in that general area personally I would assume it's power steering fluid since it's on the rack but it's not impossible for other things To leak on it

I can't tell from the pictures you posted if something like brake fluid is leaking onto it.
your going to have to look really hard and feel for fluid above the boot or take more pictures

What year vehicle ?
Anything important we should know?

Dsmkauai is right there's a internal seal that would cause fluid to leak there
If this is the problem than you must buy a new refurbished rack or buy a seal kit and rebuild it yourself
Or just keep topping up the fluid until one day your steering fails

If you run it dry you'll damage the rack

You could even do a manual rack swap

Ill try to answer everything in one post. I just checked it again (rained again today, heavily) and i think its water. The boot thing was dry after i got done driving it last night (was not raining then), because i checked it after i turned the engine off and waited a few minutes. (this was also when i cranked the wheel to the side and back again), still dry. Today, after having not driven it, i found it was wet again (see pic), but i also noticed a few other things slightly damp near the front of the firewall. Also, power steering and brake fluid levels are completely full. My question is: is it possible for water to leak down onto it when it rains because there was debris in the drainage holes on the driver side? ill attach a picture of what im talking about. Pic 1 is from just a few minutes ago, the boot was still damp, still couldnt tell what fluid it was. Pic 2 is the formerly clogged drainage hole that i think mightve been contributing to the problem (yes im aware my talon needs some spring cleaning

). Thoughts?

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Help identifying part (looks like torn boot)

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