http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u...%20rod%20boot/

exactly how bad is this...? it's my driver side tie rod @ the PS rack.

 

hard to tell. is there fluid coming out of the rack?
is there play in the joint?
start with a rack bellow boot and hope for the best.

 

If you don't have any play in the steering rod,just replace the boot.

 

i have a PS leak but i don't think that's part of it. AFAIK my only leak is from the strut-mounted PS hose connector thing on that bracket with the big bolt.

 

i don't have play, so much, but the car does drift, usually to the left, when i let go of the wheel. but i'm guessing that's the fault of my still-crapped-out LCA bushings on the passenger side..

 

then do the boot and don't worry.

 

Other than that engine bay being dirty from that leak - I don't see anything wrong with the tie rod... although you can only see a couple inches of it... If its not bent, I wouldn't worry about it...

why would he need to replace the boot .. isn't all that crud from the PS leak somewhere else??

 

it is crud from elsewhere, but the boot protects the seals on the rack from debris and damage.

 

because it's torn wide open and shouldn't be...

 

ah, couldn't see the tear... originally only had 3 pictures up there only of the tie-rod I though.. maybe didn't click next enough times... oh well... yah - replace the boot and be good...