Steering Rack Dust Boot

[Daenon]

Just got the GSX up and running again and ran into a few small problems. The steering gear boot (I'm assuming that's what it's called) on the passenger side is torn in half. No wonder alignment and balancing didn't help keep the car straight. Sigh

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I can figure out most stuff with enough research but couldn't really find any information on this. I assume the fluid coming from it is from the steering gear and not from my depleting coolant reservoir. My questions are:
1) If the boot were to crack, could the steering gear leak from there?
2) If it was leaking, would this cause damage to the gear to where I couldn't just replace the boot?
3) If replaceable, where can I find a boot? Hah. Checked the stock parts stores online and couldn't find them listed-just the whole steering gear.

Thanks,
Daenon

P.S. my power steering fluid hasn't been completely drained

 

[DSM Jeff]

That is just a dust boot. If you're leaking p.s. fluid and it is coming from that area most likely the seals in the rack are bad. In most cases you'll want to buy a remanufacture rack. If its not leaking and you want a new boot, hit up the auto part store. They carry a universal boot that you cut to size. They are cheaper then the "stock replacement" and work perfectly fine. I've used them.

 

[Daenon]

http://www.daenon.com/boot/ has pictures of it.
As you can see, it is leaking.

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1) Eclipse 2) TIE ROD BOOT 3) Eclipse 4) STEERING GEAR 5) 2.4L 6) RACK
Pardon my lacking knowledge of technical terms. By rack do you mean the entire steering gear? Or is the rack a specific part of it? Haven't seen remanufactured prices but steering gears are a little pricey. Considering taking it to a shop and have them diagnose/price it, but ever since a local shop put my car into park for a year I have very little faith in them. Any helpful direction would be much obliged-am trying to figure out exactly how much needs replacement.

 

[DSM Jeff]

Ok, from what I can see as well as what I know on this I would say the "rack and pinion" would need to be rebuilt or replaced. The 'accordian' boot that you see is not a seal, but a dust cover. In your pictures you have the wheel turned and the shiney silver rod you're seeing is #6 which they are calling the rack. #4 the steering gear should have a seal inside of it keeping fluid inside. But its leaking out and that is what you're seeing. There is no seal listed, but does not mean its not avalible. The shop manual shows a couple o-rings and seals for the rack housing #4.
What could have happened is the accordian dust boot ripped, dirt got in and onto the rack rod and ruined the o-rings that are inside of the steering gear or rack housing. Then it started leaking.
So basically to stop the leak you either need to hit up a shop that can rebuild steering racks, go to mitsu for a parts diagram and figure which seals you would like to replace or go out and buy a remanufactured rack and pinion. Going on RockAuto.com they have racks from $175 (they say only 1 remaining) all the way up to $444 and you have to send your core back. Local part stores maybe your best choice so there is no shipping.
Hope this helps you.

 

[Daenon]

Definitely does, thx Jeff