Power steering fluid leaking out of boot on rack

[GooeyGus]

Well, I've decided after a year or so that it's time to fix my power steering.

Everything worked perfect, no leaks, then one day I started the car and there was a puddle of power steering fluid under my car shortly after I started it. I looked under the car and saw it dumping out from the drivers side power steering bellows on the rack.

It was my DD at that point, so what did I do? I cut the power steering belt, of course.

It's been that way for a year or so now (I've been pouring some of that super thick lucas power steering shit in there every once and a while to keep everything lubricated), and I've decided to patch it up and see if everything still works correctly. I am so used to driving without power steering that it will definitely be a weird sensation to have it again.

So, are the bellows a pretty easy fix? I have a pretty firm grasp on engine mechanics, but I have no idea how the power steering system works (other than just knowing it's a pressurized fluid system). That being said, does it make sense that fluid would be pouring out of this rubber boot? I just want to make sure I don't have some other issue before I just slap a new set of bellows on. It just seems weird how the car would be absolutely fine, then one morning it dumps all the fluid within like 60 seconds. I guess the boot broke over night.

 

[boostd_mitsu]

if it is leaking out of the bellows then you need a new rack. the seals on the inside of the rack are leaking and unless you try and rebuild it (which i think is a waste of time) you would just be better off putting in a new one. good luck!

 

[GooeyGus]

if it is leaking out of the bellows then you need a new rack. the seals on the inside of the rack are leaking and unless you try and rebuild it (which i think is a waste of time) you would just be better off putting in a new one. good luck!

Thats kinda what I was thinking. It just didn't seem right for the bellows to be the final seal in the system, I knew there had to be something else inside.

That being said, how could a rack go from working perfectly one day, to having a leak bad enough to piss all the fluid onto the ground within less than 24 hours of sitting? Also, it didn't happen in any sort of crazy weather or anything... maybe 75 during the day and 50 at night.

 

[boostd_mitsu]

it will still work fine until there is no more fluid, as for the leaking, it probably slowly leaked into the bellow until it filled up to where it could leak out. get what i'm saying? hope this helps

 

[GooeyGus]

it will still work fine until there is no more fluid, as for the leaking, it probably slowly leaked into the bellow until it filled up to where it could leak out. get what i'm saying? hope this helps

Yes that makes perfect sense. Maybe I'll try throwing the belt back on and tossing some fluid in to see how long it takes to dump the fluid. Thanks again!