Steering Rack

Actually - the first thing you should do is go buy some Lucas power steering leak stop for 7.99 at any autoparts store. I have the same problem with an older - higher milage FX and that product worked perfectly.

The only alternative is to replace the rack & pinion.
 
thanks for your replies. I also have high miles, 105K. I was as autozone and saw the lucas product and was tempted to use it. I'll try it. Did you pour the whole bottle in, and how long did it take to stop the leak
 
The directions are on the bottle, but it should take a maximum of two bottles if you have a really bad leak. I only had to use one bottle - but I had "seeping" not a full out leak.

You have to remove some OEM fluid from the reservoir - I siphoned it off with a hose, the Lucas website suggests using a turkey baster.

Then you just pour in the Lucas fluid - that's it. It's supposed to begin working, "immediately". I didn't check in the immediate days following - but the leak has definitely stopped after a couple hundred miles.
 
I just finished replacing a power steering rack in an '06 FX35 2wd and I had my gopro camera on most of the time. If there is any interest in a DIY video, I can put something together...
 
So did anyone actually replace their rack? I just found an issue with mine, not sure if I have to go that far yet, but thought I'd check. Was driving around today and at the last couple of stops, smelled something burning. Got home and saw a little smoke from under the hood. Tracked it down to power steering fluid leaking from the rack. I haven't found the exact spot yet as I haven't gotten under there. But there is a decent amount of fluid on the colum and U joint. Also sprayed a decent amount of fluid onto my wheel and drivers side fender liner. Fluid level is still normal, so not much has leaked. But it appears the problem just started today as I only smelled it toward the end of the day.

Anyone have this happen to them? Seemed different than the usual leak coming from the lower bolt. I'm hoping it's just a hose issue.
 
Well, I was too hasty, it wasn't the steering rack after all. It turns out the inner CV joint boot disintegrated and grease was spraying everywhere. Last night in the dark, it looked like PS fluid since it was primarily sprayed all over the steering column and rack. But today after I jacked up the car and got under there, I could see it was grease. I reached under to where the CV meets the diff and the remainder of the boot fell off in my hand as soon as I touched it.

So new CV joint just ordered. Maybe this explains the intermittent click I was getting at low speeds in stop and go traffic. And last year, when I got into the accident, it was the driver's side wheel that took the entire impact and snapped the tie rod. So maybe that hastened the failure of the CV joint since I'm sure it wasn't designed to take a side impact like that.

Is there a DIY on the CV joint? Done it on other cars but never the FX. So not sure if it's any different than normal. Thanks.
 
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