Dude, my car is such a....you know.

I took it to have a Vehicle Inspection from Firestone today and they said my Bellow Boot had a huge hole in it and I saw it from underneath when they lifted my car.

They say my rack and pinion assembly is leaking...(leaking what? - PS fluid?)

and a hella other shiiat.

Are those 2 things DIY? Also, what about changing the master cylinder...how hard is that?

Bellow boot... aka rack and pinion steering rack boot. Those things crack easy with older cars. And if they are exposed, dirt can get up in the universal joints and hurt them. It's just not good for that nice clean grease to get dirty. So, replacing them is good. GET OEM ONLY!!! I got cheap $7 boots from AutoZone and they cracked 1 year later. ****ES me off. It took me 3 or 4 hour to do both sides AND I needed an alignment. Get a quality boot!

But as for your rack leak... yes, it's PS fluid. And I HOPE it's not coming from the rack itself. For me, my PS resivoir was leaking from a hose and it would get on the crank pulley and it would sling all over the engine. And it would drip from a certain screw that was underneath the rack. So of course, mechanics want to charge $600 for replacing the steering rack. I'm like, sorry... NO WAY.

I found the problem myself and fixed it. But that doesn't mean your rack isn't leaking. Just be sure about it. I think a refurbished rack is around $300. Then, another couple/few hundred for labor.

I don't know too much about the master cylinder. But changing your rack, it not really something you'd like to do in your driveway in your back.

Well I just recently replaced my PS pressure hose...it busted for some odd reason, but I've never had my PS go out on me. The bellow boots is more toward the driver side...I can touch it from the top of the engine bay...(kinda under my master cylinder)

it could be worse....
http://mrgone.homeip.net/images/steering/


Listen to Aaron though, the boots arent fun to replace on a rack and pinion.


btw, my problem is that everytime I turn the wheel to make a right hand turn, the pressure line makes its way towards the manifold (that is cracked). One of these days I'm just going to get fed up, and rip the exhaust off, put some long tubes on, reroute the PS lines, and clean the thing. Plus rebuild the whole "rack". oh, and re-route my ignition wires.

I was sitting here thinking "what kind of f***ing moron would put a power steering hose there?!?!"

Then I realized the engine was Ford Blue...

lol - that looks like a burn in ths PS hose...

MrGone...both of our udercaraiges look the SAME! it's sad

How was it for the driver's side boot. Mine is separated. Is there a "quickboot" for this?

Since you're from NC, I will help you out. I have heard of a "quickboot", but it's worse than the AutoZone boots I put on my car. Basically, it's a boot that is split down the side and you are able to wrap it around the joint on the rack and then you're set. It's a cheap and easy fix. But you will have to find some kind of universal boot b/c I seriously doubt they make this quickboot strictly for the Maxima. Just be prepared to have them come lose or tear a year later.

If you can find them, then, sure why not. It's easy. But if you wanna do the job right, I only recommend quality Nissan parts.

...and he not only says this because he's a client, but because he's the president!

But seriously, get the OEM boot. You won't be sorry.

how many hours of labor would this boot replacement cost at a shop ? one boot only

I'd have to estimate one boot replacement for a shop to be 1.5 hours of labor. Then add an alignment to that. Since you're getting the alignment done, might as well change both boots.

As I said above, my boots are cracked right now b/c I went with the cheapo AutoZone boots. They were universal so I had to cut them on the correct scribed lines. They ripped in less than a year. That sucks.

Thats what my problem was. But...the car is sold.

Dude, your engine bay was dirty!

I've got the same problem on the mustang, but it should be alot easier/cheaper to fix.

13 yrs old....just think how dirty you would be if you only had like 3 baths....

i have the same problem, but not as bad, its a tear on each boot. what is it i need? only the boots? can i replace it by just uninstallign the outer tierods and sliding it in and out? do i need grease?....

And I JUST had some front end work don when I had my tranny swapped. They replace the pass side 1/2 shalf, THEN after putting car back together noticed the boot.

People have told me it is a B|TCH to change. Not just the whole rack, but the boot too.

I dunno much about it apparently....wish I could help yall out more.

I had the same problem with my max.

My max seems to be leaking oil though. All of the parts around it a being eaten away.

I found this out about five months ago and still haven't fixed it and verything still works fine for now.

how much do oe boots cost?

My local dealer wanted $25 and change. Next nearest dealer was $20.88, but I had to order locally.

thanks___________

I watched the mechanic change my R&P in 2h.

I'm sure he was thrilled with that

I currently have the same problem, and have noticed all of these things after an inspection at NTB, in which I also had to get my front wheel bearings replaced... I also have a cracked R&P busing that is loose off of the bracket. Does anyone know how much for this bushing to be replaced?

Ahhhh What's R&P guys?

Rack and Pinion. first time I've seen it called an R&P aswell. Laziness is bad

Explain yourself rolling eyes.

Most mechanics as well as any other service personel don't care for people watching them while they work.

He is a friend of mine. How else are you going to learn if not by watching? Or are you one of those guys that go by the book and end up in deeper feces than before the repair?

Yep, if they watch, then you can't gouge them on labor costs because they will know how long it took. And to top it all off, you can't cut corners. Blasted customers.

well that depends some dealerships have set hours, even if he does a 2 hour job in 45 mins he gets paid for the 2 hours

I'm not a mechanic. I happen to know ALOT of them though and it ahs nothing to do with cutting corners or gougeing it has to do with being comfortable. I'm not comfortable with people staring over my shoulder when I'm working a computer (stopped doing it for just that reason). Sheeeet I don't like people looking over my shoulder when I'm looking up parts.

Well, I wasn't literally "over his shoulder". Just observing the steps in the process. Being that he's a buddy of mine, he understood as that's how he learned to fix cars himself. He doesn't have any diplomas but I trust him more than the "certified mechanics".

I wasn't refering to your case in particular just most cases.
I literally look over my mechanics shoulder.
But then again he has to put up with me, I'm the boss's nephew

Spoiled *****.

Jealous?
And I work for a parts warehouse

That question is in itself answered by the mere fact that I can't even find a solid SE in a million people city..plus two totalled maximas in 3 months.

PLZ try learning how to drive before you buy your next max. There are so few good one's left as-is we don't need any more destroyed!





OK so i'm 1/2 joking

There's little you can do, no matter how good you drive, when someone makes a sudden U-turn in front of you instead of actually merging into your lane. But your point had already been digested by my mind before you brought it up. There's a part of my driving that I largely ignored and that is anticipation. Instead of counting on other people to realize and correct their mistakes, I'm much more observant and patient than before. I extrapolate situations now and try to contain my aggressive driving nature, especially in busy traffic and with suspiciously behaving drivers.