[suburbanstevie]

GmTech1,

I'll give you an update... the day after the ordeal. Jacked the car up and saw that the steering rack was dry, so spent some time trying to find the source of the leak. I assumed it was the rack based on my wifes description of where the puddle was. Turned out to actually be a pin-hole leak in the high-pressure (pump discharge) tube assembly. The hole was located in the section of tubing that bends around the steering-rack boot.

What surprised me was that Kragen--O'Reilly, has the tube assembly in the store within 3 hours for $75. I was very happy to pay that to get the part in hand on a Saturday. I was afraid the part would have straight metal portions that would need to be formed by me. But the assembly was EXACTLY like the one I removed.

The mess?... let's just say that I am hoping all that oil evaporates off the hot engine in due time.

But the more important thing to note is what I discovered. ...Both of the CV-boots on the drive axles are shot, with a huge mess of grease all over the knuckle, wheels, and fenders. So I've decided to just take it to the local mechanic and have him replace both for $750.

Later,
Steve