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For the first good news, I found where the leak is. The bad news, it isn't just a loose fitting. It is the rack itself leaking at the top where it meets the steering column (see arrow in screenshot below). The second good news, the leak seems to be slowing considerably. Perhaps as I get more of that Lucas Stop Leak circulating it is doing its job. I have, at the very most, 12 oz of that Lucas in there. Probably 8 - 10 is realistic. The instructions say it will need 12 - 24 oz. I don't believe in snake oil remedies but I researched that Lucas Stop Leak extensively. I read reviews and watched a bunch of You Tube vids and, to my surprise, it received pretty good marks. So i think I will give that Lucas more time to do its thing. Maybe I'll suck out the fluid from the reservoir and refill with the Lucas instead of just waiting for it to drip out.
I've seen that before. The bearing on the shaft is worn and is wallowing out the seal. Your rack needs a rebuild. There's a lot of stress on that bearing when you turn at slow speed. It eventually just wears out.
Seems to me if the rack is going to completely fail before long I may as well just replace it now, get the use out of the new one, and figure that will be the last rack I will ever need. I'm also going to probably hire it out. I'm just too old to be crawling around on the garage floor anymore. I'm slow to admit this but there comes a day you just have to suck it up. It's not like I'm poor and can't afford it. I'll buy the rack myself because these repair joints buy their parts from Napa and similar places who frequently just carry Cardone rebuilds. I don't want a Cardone rebuild. That said, I'm not overly familiar with the other manufacturers. I see A-Premium (I bought a spindle from them for the wife's Jeep and was impressed with the machine quality), then there's Detroit Axle, Lares, BBB. I'll just get new. The prices are comparable to rebuilt. Anyone have any experience with these other brands?
Seems to me if the rack is going to completely fail before long I may as well just replace it now, get the use out of the new one, and figure that will be the last rack I will ever need. I'm also going to probably hire it out. I'm just too old to be crawling around on the garage floor anymore. I'm slow to admit this but there comes a day you just have to suck it up. It's not like I'm poor and can't afford it. I'll buy the rack myself because these repair joints buy their parts from Napa and similar places who frequently just carry Cardone rebuilds. I don't want a Cardone rebuild. That said, I'm not overly familiar with the other manufacturers. I see A-Premium (I bought a spindle from them for the wife's Jeep and was impressed with the machine quality), then there's Detroit Axle, Lares, BBB. I'll just get new. The prices are comparable to rebuilt. Anyone have any experience with these other brands?
I've used Detroit Axle before and never really had any issues. However, they are made of Chinesium like a lot of other parts out there.
