Date:         Sat, 10 May 2008 12:22:38 -0700
Reply-To:     John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU>
Organization: UCSB
Subject:      Pwr Steering Rack Maint.
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

As I see a few others are dealing with aging/leaking power steering
racks I thought I would jump in and offer some info and ask a few
questions of those who have been down this pathe.

Mine has not "blown out" yet but has a real slow ( a few drops over
time) leak  at one of the boots where the tie rod exits the rack. Both
boots are cracked and split though and I have replacements for them as
well as a new reservoir filter.

Can anyone offer tips on if a complete fluid change  - will  it help
prolong the life of the internal seals at this point, or maybe it will
speed up the inevitable? Is flushing and replacing the fluid pretty
straight forward? I suppose Benteley has this in detail.

In order to replace the boots that fit over the tie rods the tie rod end
needs to be unbolted right? I replaced tie rod ends on an old 1963 Volks
Van I had way back but don't remember if i needed to press the end out
of where it connects to the steering arm. My question then is:  does
this require a special tool  and or how difficult is it to get the tie
rod end free?

Any advice is much appreciated.

-john