Power steering leak

I have a 1985 Vanagon Westy with a leak in its power steering system. It
seems to be from the boots that go out of the rack- there is one on either
side, and the tie rods come out of them. Both are leaking, but the passenger
side is worse. I don't think there should be any fluid ih these boots, just
some sort of grease, right? I'm guessing that fluid is leaking from somewhre
in the steering rack into these boots. I haven't had a chance to check the
Bentley or Haynes manuals yet, but had a chance to post this before I finish
my travels for the day. It has leaked about a pint in under 40 miles.

Any suggestions or guesses about the cause or solution? How about getting
parts or a new (used) rack if I need one? How much of a job is it to replace
the rack? I have a 1987 Vanagon that I was going to sell whole, but maybe I
could take off the ps rack from that.

I would imagine that a leak as bad as mine would not respond to any power
steering stop leak.

Suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed Duntz

DON'T GO USED! go with a new or factory rebuilt rack. It's an easy repair to
do for the DIYer.

"Ed" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 1985 Vanagon Westy with a leak in its power steering system. It
> seems to be from the boots that go out of the rack- there is one on either
> side, and the tie rods come out of them. Both are leaking, but the
> passenger
> side is worse. I don't think there should be any fluid ih these boots,
> just
> some sort of grease, right? I'm guessing that fluid is leaking from
> somewhre
> in the steering rack into these boots. I haven't had a chance to check the
> Bentley or Haynes manuals yet, but had a chance to post this before I
> finish
> my travels for the day. It has leaked about a pint in under 40 miles.
>
> Any suggestions or guesses about the cause or solution? How about getting
> parts or a new (used) rack if I need one? How much of a job is it to
> replace
> the rack? I have a 1987 Vanagon that I was going to sell whole, but maybe
> I
> could take off the ps rack from that.
>
> I would imagine that a leak as bad as mine would not respond to any power
> steering stop leak.
>
> Suggestions are appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Ed Duntz
>
>

DON'T GO USED! go with a new or factory rebuilt rack. It's an easy repair to
do for the DIYer.

"Ed" > wrote in message
...
>I have a 1985 Vanagon Westy with a leak in its power steering system. It
> seems to be from the boots that go out of the rack- there is one on either
> side, and the tie rods come out of them. Both are leaking, but the
> passenger
> side is worse. I don't think there should be any fluid ih these boots,
> just
> some sort of grease, right? I'm guessing that fluid is leaking from
> somewhre
> in the steering rack into these boots. I haven't had a chance to check the
> Bentley or Haynes manuals yet, but had a chance to post this before I
> finish
> my travels for the day. It has leaked about a pint in under 40 miles.
>
> Any suggestions or guesses about the cause or solution? How about getting
> parts or a new (used) rack if I need one? How much of a job is it to
> replace
> the rack? I have a 1987 Vanagon that I was going to sell whole, but maybe
> I
> could take off the ps rack from that.
>
> I would imagine that a leak as bad as mine would not respond to any power
> steering stop leak.
>
> Suggestions are appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Ed Duntz
>
>