So, there is a leak in the boot from the rack to the tie rod on my Jeep Liberty. I’m just wondering if its an indication of a bigger problem with the tie rod or the rack or if its just a hole in the boot?
RESPONSE
All the boots have a hole in them. This allows them to move without having an issue with air pressure. The boot is to help assist in keeping dust and dirt away from the seals in the rack. It is safe to drive with a small leak as long as you keep the fluid level topped off. Letting it run dry will damage the power steering pump. If the leaks gets bad enough to warrant fixing it. Replacing the entire rack is normal. An alignment will be needed once the repair is completed.
Labor time for replacing the rack is between 3 and 4 hours. Not including the alignment.