is there like a yellowish-honey colored fluid in the steering rack because i accidentally ran over a median at Taco Bell and ever since it has had a slow leak of this color fluid. I know it's not my actual engine oil, but what else could it be?
also, I had an sllignment done recently and after they alligned it it is still out of whack, so thats why I'm thinking that the steering rack is mesed up. I hope it's not the tranny fluid---I run mt-90. It's red when I put it in a few years back but can it turn yellow?

 

Transaxle is leaking GL-4 75-90w. Look where your axles go into the cv-joints, that is your transaxle.

 

PS fluid is a light color, but usually in the PS system of an A32 you'll find ATF, which has an obvious color/smell/taste to it. Check the PS reservoir by the timing cover, compare to what's leaking.

 

All I'll say is the A32 steering rack is FTMFL..

 

So...to sum it up, u guys think I'm leaking transmission fluid or is transmission fluid the same as transaxle fluid?

 

transmission = transaxle

 

Compare the fluid that's leaking against whatever's in your PS reservoir (PS fluid, ATF, ****, whatever). Vlasic is kinda right. transmission == transaxle.

God I hate C++.

 

+1 ^^^ mine has atf in it, just check the Power Steering resevoir and compare, but sounds like gear oil to me, unless you're auto I dont know if u guys use atf or what.
is it shaking or doin anything else? you probably got a bent rim or tie rod.

 

Not shaking, but the old driver's side hub bearing was shot and I just replaced the entire hub with a used one from ebay. And even after allignment, the steering wheel sometimes needs to be turned left a few degrees to go straight, but then at other times it goes straight when the steering wheel is straight also.

 

anybody? You think my steering rack is f**ked?

 

this worries me. why did you replace the enitre hub if only the bearing was toast????????????
and the whole e-bay hub is very disturbing.

but either way the steering issue sounds like a tie rod IMO, just take it to a shop they will check it usually for free. But you'd think they'd catch a f'd tie rod during the allignment.

not trying to flame,, but do you have experience seating bearings with the proper end play, etc? also did you fully inspect this hub you got, I dont understand why you replaced the hub unless the old one was toast..... even still.... ebay????<<<< for a hub? would never trust that unless you have access to a machine shop to check it.

 

get the LCA (Lower Control Arm) bushings checked. Most common symptom of this is car pulls to the side under acceleration and goes straight when letting off the gas. Alignment places never seem to check these.

 

It's all good man. No I don't have experience with bearings, but I kept the older hub anyway. The bearing is just gone like it doesn't turn smoothly and a whole lot of play in it. Where can I get the bearing replaced beside the stealership? Or where can I buy the bearing, I once again saw the bearings on Ebay...

 

No it just sometimes goes straight when the steering wheel is straight then sometimes goes straight while it's turned to the left...weird.

 

Did you install the hub/bearings yourself or have a shop do it?

And dont buy the bearing from ebay please, bearings are not that expensive, and worth paying the money for new, I'd imagine you could get one from any parts place such as Part Source or Pep Boys, etc, look in your phone book for auto parts distributors, and price the bearing set (<< you need a race and a bearing hence 'bearing set') out between places / dealership.

And this still sounds like a tie rod to me, how does it turn to the right?

 

You're leaking gear oil. Power steering fluid will be reddish-pink like the auto tranny fluid since they're the same in our cars and has a bitter scent.


And I might be nit-picking here but transmission ≠ transaxle. A transmission is that just. A transaxle (what we have) houses the transmission and differential.

 

True, but that was in the context of fluids, there's no 'Automatic Transaxle Fluid'.

For common usage, it's far easier to call all transaxles transmissions, as the point will get across either way. If you don't know what's in your car is a transmission or transaxle...yea, put down the wrench (though understandably sometimes it can be tricky, for example you think a Fiero is RWD, it would have a transmission, or same with an MR2 or some other MR platform).

Hell I just write 'trans' to simplify things, most of the time.

 

Well picture this: When your steering wheel is aligned (when the nissan emblem on the steering wheel is straight/level horizontally,) your wheels are supposed to be pointing straightforward.
In my case, the steering wheel is tilted slightly to the left in order to go straight. When the steering wheel is turned straight, the car turns to the right a bit. But this is for the majority of the time. SOMETIMES, the steering wheel can be straight and the car will also go straight. So the steering system like chooses either way; Going straight with the steering wheel cocked left, or going straight when the steering wheel is level.
Still sound like a tie rod?

 

WOW I have the EXACT same problem, and i've recently gotten an allignment after replacing both LCAs, swaybar end-links, and bushings. Any ideas?

 

Did you buy a complete suspension rebuild kit from ArmCan on eBay??

 

no, just the LCAs, why?

 

yup still sounds like a tie rod to me, likely a bent rim as well. Either way take it to a shop and get it checked, most shops will check it for free under the assumption you will get them to fix it, but you dont have to go that route obiously. Go get it checked i really hope you arent still driving this thing man.
And just suck it up cough up the money to have a proffesional inspect/install ll a bearing set and your hub.

 

yup still sounds like a tie rod to me, likely a bent rim as well. Either way take it to a shop and get it checked, most shops will check it for free under the assumption you will get them to fix it, but you dont have to go that route obiously. Go get it checked i really hope you arent still driving this thing man.

And just suck it up cough up the money to have a proffesional inspect/install ll a bearing set and your hub if you arent experienced/ lack help from someone who IS.

You dont need your axel burnin out/ etc, etc, man its worth the money to have it proffesionally done if you dont know how.

 

whoops double post, delete that 1st one please

 

is there something wrong with ArmCan LCA's?

 

No I have one on my driver side...just asked you because I was thinking about buying the complete suspension rebuild kit.

 

Yeah, i'm having lotsa steering shudder from the slightest bumps which seems to be getting worse (or i'm just being paranoid). (not to mention our similar problems) But like "TunerMaxima3000" said; we can't rule out the possibility of shot tie rods (since they weren't replaced). I don't see anything wrong with getting the suspesion rebuild kit from Arm_Can, but i can't speak for their quality just yet.

 

mine is an Aussie Maxima Auto, here is photos I took:





and it is leaking oil as well as you can see and the oil is pooling up at the lowerarm.

So is this leaking from the steering rack or 'transaxle' (still confused about this)?

and the steering vibrates and make these 'thumpering' sound when driving over uneven road surface, I am suspection either the arm bushing or the tie rods, any ideas?

 

hot dammit aussie, u r lucky u have no winter, those arms look brand spankin new.

mine are a nice golden rusty colour ive grown used to.

what year is the car ?

 

it's a 1997.

I was checking on the engine oil leak problems, which I found out was from the oil sump seal, which needed replacement.

At the same time, I also found out oil stains on the lower arm, so I thought I took some photos and ask it here. And I reckon it is leaking from the steering rack?

How do I check this problem?

 

edgar, i must say, that car's probaly gonna last until 300,000 miles! I have a'97 too, and it rustastic! (just replaced both control arms, the exaust is falling apart, and the radiator support is developing a hole) Seems like you're either leaking oil from the rear valve cover, or the TC cover.

 

^^^>>????????
you're aware the pic is from the bottom of the car right??

Did you ever confirm that the oil in your powersteering resevoir is indeed ATF (red)???

as for the steering/front end, Ill say it again>>>> take the car to a shop man, like I said it'll likely be free to check it. no harm done just get it checked, then take it from there.

 

uhhh...dude, when my valve cover was leaking, my control arm was soaked in oil. (oil can leak down from the valve cover, ya know) I'm just speaking from experience. I guess i'll have to take the car to my guys and bug them again to check out my front-end.

 

yes Power steering fluid in the A32 is indeed ATF Dexron III

 

It wouldnt be that hard to notice if it was leaking all the way down from the valve cover, he said it appears to be out of the bottom. I know PS fluid is ATF DEX II or III, but it hasnt been verified what the oil is, from the original post I'm positive its gear oil. But double check the PS resevoir just in case, you never know what someone may have in there, I've seen engine oil in an old tempo.

 

i concur

 

My mech has reccomended a good allignment place. I'll try to go over there @ some point too see if an allignment will fix that pull..

 

The bearing was shot so I'm fixing it at a machine shop. will keep u posted.

 

Ok, the new bearing is in, however when i look at the driver side wheel when I'm turning the steering wheel, the top of the tire seems to be going in and out of the fender, like this: / \...any suggestions as to why this is happening? I don't want to drive around like this if I can help it.

 

My story, i went get an allignment on Saturday. They adjusted the TOE which was out of spec, but while checking the suspension/steering components, they told me that everything okay as far as LCAs/tie-rods go, but my strut mounts are shot (which would make sense, since the old ones were re-used when i had tokicos put in). They said that there's a lot of up/down movement which would cause my pulling as well as the fact that i feel every little bump through the streering wheel.