So, I went under my truck to replace the crankshaft position sensor (another story) and found that my rack appears to be leaking quite a bit and it looks like a seal is about to come off. My question is this, can this be replaced with a new seal? If so what is involved? How difficult is it? Here is a picture of the offending seal:


Rack Seal Torn by xpkranger, on Flickr


Rack Seal Torn by xpkranger, on Flickr


Rack Seal Torn by xpkranger, on Flickr


Rack Seal Torn by xpkranger, on Flickr

 

So I'm beginning to suspect that this is not the source of my leak, since apparently no fluid goes though this part. The leak may be causing this seal to fail, but the seal is not the root problem. I think this is just a mounting point based on the picture here from AutoZone (see red circle area).
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is your power steering fluid low?
If so top it off, clean up any mess under the truck, jack up the truck and have some one rack the steering wheel back and forth with you under it and see were the leak is coming from. That's what i would do first!

 

Thats a rack mount bushing that has gone bad , most likely oil leaking down on it caused it to swell up and fail , if the power steering pump isnt the culprit , i would look into oil leaking from the valve cover as the next most likely source .

 

I can see from a wireharness above the rack its dripping onto it. I suspect its from a valve cover leaking.

 

Thanks everyone. I will clean the junk off and find the leak. Is that bushing something I can just replace as needed?

 

Yes you can replace the bushing I have never done it but it can be done.

That is quit the oil leak your truck is drenched in oil you dont notice the oil level dropping?

 

Yep , i was wanting to replace mine with the poly-urethane ones until i seen a place online that sells solid aluminum ones for the viper , which to my understanding has alot of suspension parts in common with the dakota`s , if i can get my hands on one to measure for the exact dimensions , or a print with the dimensions , i will machine my own set from aluminum stock !

 

Replacing it with aluminum is not so good an idea it could become very noisy you need the rubber to dissipate sound that’s why its rubber.

Even with the rubber its a very strong bond to the frame

I think the rubber helps dampen shock loads to your suspension and steering parts cusioning your ball joints and other suspension parts so think on making that change.

 

i hear ya on that train of thought , thats why i wanted to make up a set to try out , and not spend the cash only to find out i cant deal with it - and gotta spend more money to buy more bushings .