|
Re: 2001 Steering Rack
A leaking axle boot would typically be the Constant Velocity (CV) boot on the rear drive axle. These are not filled with fluid, but filled with grease. If the boot is leaking, it will be pretty easy to identify. The rotating axle will sling grease from the cracked boot all over the underside of the car (if the inner boot) or all over the inside of the wheel and the wheel well (if the outer boot).
A rack and pinion leaking from the inner bellow/dust boot would typically not be referred to as an axle boot but rather a steering boot, or inner tie rod end boot/bellow, or steering boot. Generally the shop would just say "the rack is leaking and should be replaced."
For CV boots, it is possible to get and replace just the boot, but depending on how long you've been driving it with the crack there could be dirt, water and other contaminants in the CV joint causing wear. That in addition to the labor to disassemble, clean and replace the boot verus the typical cost for a rebuild halfshaft usually makes it just as cost effective, if not more, to replace the halfshaft assembly with a factory rebuilt unit. Since the LS and Jaguar sister are less common, the cost of a rebuilt shaft may be higher than average, but you should consider both options. The amount of grease that has spewed out should give some indication as to how long the crack's been present and potentially been allowing in contaminants.
-Rod
|
06-19-2008, 02:35 PM
