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During my exhaust install, I got a close look at the tear in the steering rack boot (yes, its been this way for 9+ months). I assume this is a bad thing since its letting in dirty/road crap? What happens when it starts to fail?




I also noticed that the...umm joint which the wheel attaches to is leaking fluid -- same side the tear from the steering rack. the fluid is clear and sticky. I assume its the power steering fluid? Those gaps normal?

The steering boot shouldn't be leaking any fluid out of it. It's only a guard to keep debris from getting into the rack. If there is fluid coming out of it, then you have a larger issue than just a torn steering boot.

The grease on the control arm bushing is from something else. Very possibly the steering fluid leaking out of your rack.

I'd try just replacing the boot. I had one torn on my impreza......not nearly as bad as that though.

I replaced the boots, they're not bad. Inspect the rack shaft for fluid leakage.

If you don't see any leakage and the steering feels solid, you should be ok in terms of rack damage.

You have to remove the outer tie rod to get the boot over the rod, so you should consider replacing those while you have it off. But the boots just slide on over the lip on the rack. I save the springs that came off my old boots, the new ones came with just zipties that weren't exactly inspiring.

Slap some grease on the inner tie rod joint to keep it clean, but avoid getting it on the rack shaft, to avoid contaminating the PS fluid.

If you replace the boots, use OEM boots. The aftermarket boots tend not to be exactly the right length, and not long enough when they are extended fully. This is the reason the ones failed on my impreza.

Yeah, zip ties suck. I use bailing wire myself. Make sure you mark the outer tie rod's position on the inner tie rod so you don't have to realign the car after.

Hmm, guess I really should clean off the steering rack (with what, rags?) to find the source of the leak. Been bothering me for a while; only now do I have the time, tools and location to finally work on it.

Rags or a hose and some simple green should do the trick

That leak is coming from up north, I don't think its the rack.

That control arm bushing is shot. Those are liquid filled bushings (that grease is the liquid goo inside of them). Compare it to the bushing on the other control arm, does it have the same gap?

Yeah, just had the exact same thing. Replaced the boot, all in all it took about 15 min.

Things to note about it tho. When you unbolt the arm (not really sure how to explain it) but mark the position so that you can put it back on in the exact same place, otherwise you may risk screwing up your steering/alignment.

The only hard part was getting the new boot on, its hard to grip a slippery boot haha.

Ben

n2x4 wrote:That control arm bushing is shot. Those are liquid filled bushings (that grease is the liquid goo inside of them). Compare it to the bushing on the other control arm, does it have the same gap?

No, its dry.

To replace the control arm bushing, is it as easy as taking out that single bolt, swapping bushings and reassembling? Or does one have to take more stuff apart?

You will need to take off the nut and 2 bolts off, then pry the control arm down and slide the transverse link off the control arm. If it were me, I'd just replace both sides with a Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit.

Which Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit version fits our cars; the WRX 02-07 (KCA359) one?

they're all the same. The wrx one comes with spacers for the subframe, which we don't have.

I'd recommend the sport version


Although actually the 05+ legacy and 08 impreza bushings are different.

jamal wrote: Although actually the 05+ legacy and 08 impreza bushings are different.

Jamal, what's different?

Any one have the part numbers? For te rack boot and the bushings?

You can d/l the parts book from me, and look up the part #.

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=30531

I got a boot from Autozone...didnt fit right. Had to heat up a punch, then shove it on there while it was still hot so it could even fit. Getting it on the back side was nearly impossible. Definitely go with a Subaru boot

I'll second that. I had to replace a torn boot on my Impreza. It was not a Subaru boot and was too short, which is why it ripped.

Man, dont they have some that'll clamp around your old boot so you dont
have to pull the whole thing apart? I would think this would work if you
could find one. Just clean the old boot and wrap the new one around with
the big zip ties you can get from Harbor Freight (10 for $2)