Before ordering a replacement steering rack for a leak, get the workshop to record where the fluid is coming from. “The rack is wet” is too vague to order from. A leaking hose connection, fluid inside a boot and grease on the housing each call for different checks.
What you need from the workshop is a clear description of the fault and the repair it recommends. The inspection should be carried out by a qualified technician using the vehicle's service information.
Hydraulic or electric power steering?
Confirm which steering system the vehicle has. Electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) uses an electric pump but still supplies a hydraulic rack with fluid. For the leak checks here, treat EHPS as hydraulic. ZF Aftermarket: How Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering Works
Electric power steering (EPS) has no hydraulic power-steering fluid circuit, although grease or sealant can be visible on the outside of the gear.
GM bulletin 16-NA-109 covers the listed GM passenger cars and light- or medium-duty trucks from the 2009–2026 model years. It explains that exterior grease or sealant can be normal on their EPS gears when the boots, clamps and fasteners are in place. If oil is dripping from the gear, the technician should look above and around it for another leak source. GM bulletin 16-NA-109, February 2025
For a vehicle outside that bulletin, have the workshop check the source of any oil and the rack's condition.
Get the leak location into the report
On a hydraulic system, hose connections need checking as well as the rack housing. CARDONE lists worn or damaged steering-component seals, fluid contamination that speeds up wear, and a loose return-hose connection among possible causes of external leaks. CARDONE diagnostic chart, PT20-0034
A good report names the exact spot: a particular hose or fitting, an end of the rack, or a housing area. Ask for two photos: a close-up of the suspected source and a wider shot showing where it is on the vehicle. A close-up of drips on the floor leaves the source out of view.
If the leak source is still unknown, say so in your inquiry. Avoid choosing a replacement solely from a photo of the wet rack. If the steering feels heavy or noisy, or the fluid level keeps dropping, ask the workshop whether the car should be driven before repairs.
What was found inside the boot?
The folded cover at each end of a rack is called a boot, gaiter or bellows. A greasy-looking boot does not by itself mean the rack is leaking.
Infiniti bulletin ITB14-014 shows this on certain 2008–2014 Infiniti models fitted with Hitachi steering gears. Its inspection checks whether the substance inside the boots is assembly grease or power-steering fluid. The bulletin includes examples of greasy-looking racks that are not leaking. Infiniti bulletin ITB14-014, April 2014
Those checks, including the colors used to tell the two substances apart, apply only to the vehicle and steering-gear applications listed.
If the technician looked inside a boot, ask what they found and how they identified it. Keep those findings in the report. If they confirm a hydraulic leak, include its location and the repair recommended under the vehicle's service information. Opening the boot and refitting it correctly are workshop tasks.
Torn boot? Check the rack underneath
A boot protects the moving parts of the steering gear from water and dirt. ZF warns that a torn or badly fitted boot can let them in. On a hydraulic rack, corrosion can damage the seal and cause a leak; on an electric rack, it can affect electrical and mechanical parts. ZF also says repairs should use the fixing material supplied with the boot kit and the correct special tools. ZF Aftermarket: Correct Mounting of Bellows
If a boot is split, the workshop should also check the exposed rack and tie-rod joints for corrosion or damage and record what it finds. A photo of the tear alone cannot show the condition of the parts underneath.
Send the finding with the part details
Once the workshop has decided what repair is needed, include these details in the supplier inquiry:
| Information | What to send |
|---|---|
| Workshop finding | Exact leak location, symptoms, whether the fluid level is dropping, and recommended repair; the substance found inside a boot, if inspected. |
| Inspection photos | A close view of the source and a wider view of its position. Label the locations. |
| Vehicle and original part | Make, model, year, engine, sales market, VIN or chassis number if available, LHD/RHD, steering type, and the OE number or a label photo. |
| Replacement comparison | Clear photographs of mounting points, input shaft, hydraulic ports or electrical connections, as applicable. |
The diagnosis explains why you need a part; the identification details help us check the replacement. Keep both with the same inquiry, particularly when a model has more than one steering configuration. Our RFQ checklist covers the ordering details in more depth.
If the repair needs a new hydraulic rack, our guide to checking the fluid before fitting it covers the next stage of the job.
Send the workshop's finding together with the vehicle details, label photo and connection photos on WhatsApp or by email; both are listed on our contact page. If the original reference is hard to find, our OE number guide can help.