Leaking Power Steering fluid after new rack

Hey guys - about two months ago truck (09 dclb trd sport) was creaking when turning the steering wheel and I was losing PS fluid. I went in to my mechanic and learned the power steering rack was rusted to shit and would need replaced. Everything was fine for a while but one morning this week I came out to a puddle of fluid and my truck creaking again when turning the steering whee. Popped the hood and the fluid was low again.

I stopped by his shop and he retightened everything but again the next morning, puddle of PS fluid on the ground.

I think I may have found the culprit (pic). Can someone help me out with what I’m looking at here. Is it the pressure hose? Does the clamp just need slid down and retightened? Thanks in advance.

Love this Timberland Mica but it’s been driving me crazy lately with repairs. 9 Pittsburgh winter have taken their toll on this guy.

Got a quote of $31k on a 18 SR5 DC and 18.5k trade in for this guy that is making me think of cutting my losses and moving into something new, with the assumption that shit is just going to continue to rust out and break.

 

Those are the two lines going into the rack. One feeds fluid and one returns it. There are tiny little rubber o rings that go on the tip of each one, and you should have gotten new ones with the new rack (mine came with a couple). Put new o rings on and you should be good. That's my best guess.

 

Any idea where I can get these o-rings or what size I should look for?

 

Let me do some digging and I'll let you know. In this pic you can see the little thing I'm talking about.

 

If it was leak free for 2 months, you can't really say the guy did something wrong, but obviously, the guy didn't do a complete job. I would take it back and give him the opportunity to make it right. There are so many possibilities of why it leaked. It needs to be cleaned and determined exactly where it's leaking. It could very well be a bad hose that should have been replaced when the rack was replaced.

 

I looked and couldn't find the o rings on their own, and there's no Toyota p/n for them. A universal one would likely fit, but I'd talk to your mechanic as suggested and see what they say.

 

Yeah I’m thinking I’ll just need to take it back to him. He’s a good mechanic and I trust his work, like you said may just be a bad hose or other part.

 

As long as I keep the PS reservoir topped off, is there any danger in driving it? I know the pump can burn out if there’s not enough fluid so I’ve been checking everyday since it started leaking this week.

Unfortunately, my mechanic moved about an hour away recently so I need to find the time to take it down to him.

 

Hate those kind of gear clamps, they have a pinch point under the screw, the spring clamps keep even pressure all the way around the hose. OP take it back again I'm sure you paid enough for that repair.

 

I'd say there's no harm as long as you keep it topped off. I had mine leaking at another fitting, and kept it topped off for about a week until I could get the part in. Fixed the leak and still going strong.

 

Yeah it was definitely pricey haha. Had him put on 884x/5100/AML while he was at it.

09er has been through a lot but I’m trying to squeeze a few more years out of it. Oddly enough only 55k miles, but almost a decade of winters and no garage has taken its toll

 

Got a quote of $31k on a 18 SR5 DC and 18.5k trade in for this guy that is making me think of raising my expenses.

Fixed that for you.

Unless your frame is in rust trouble that Toyota won't replace, you'll not come out a winner trading a low mile truck like that.

Don't forget that $31k price is not out the door. And that they aren't really paying you $18.5k for your truck.

Sorry your mechanic moved. Find one closer to home, and start doing some preventative maintenance yourself. It will be way cheaper in the long haul. There's another 200k of easy life left in that thing.

 

Was your pump replaced also? If it's failing it can send metal pieces where they don't belong and take out a brand new rack in very little time.

Mine is on it's way out too and when I replace it I'm getting a new pump and all new lines also.

 

No, the pump was not replaced. Good to know about what happens when it fails tho.

I believe the steering column u-joint was replaced however.

 

Thanks, @Clearwater Bill. To provide some insight on the idea of "cutting my losses", this truck is new-to-me only about 1 year. I had an 09 AC for years that was great to me but after my daughter was born last year I realized I needed a DC (didn't feel great about putting a car seat in the access cab). Not wanting a big payment at that time, I went with this 09 that I found nearby with low miles. I also only drive about 5k miles per year b/c I live in the city and work downtown so often take a bus into work. I've had about $2,500 in repairs since then, which is why I said I may "cut my losses" and move into something newer. Out of nowhere, my coolant also looks pretty low, which now has me worrying something "bigger" could be going (although unrelated i'm assuming). I see you live in Florida (not sure if you previously lived up north), but the winters and salted roads eat away at vehicles, so my assumption is parts will only continue to rust and break. I did have my frame assessed about 6 mo ago when the TSB came out; they deemed it sufficient and sprayed it with rust preventer.

To your point about preventative maintenance, is there a thread someone could point me to to learn more about what I should/could be doing? With no driveway or garage, some of what I'm able to do it limited, since my truck is parked on the street. I'm sure I'm not as mechanically inclined as most of you, but that's what I understand TacomaWorld to be, a place to share, learn and ask questions (and also post shameless truck pics). Thanks everyone for the replies.

Once I get this damn thing fixed, I'm going to clean up and strip down these sport wheels and prime/paint them gunmetal. I'll be sure to post some pics.