torn passenger side steering rack boot

[priest05]

I was changing the drive belts on my 2003 Pathfinder LE and i came across a completely torn boot. I’ve never had this happen on a car and i’m wondering how serious i should take this issue if it’s one that can sit on the back burner for a second while i put the money together to get it fixed.

[VStar650CL]

You can let it go for a little while, but I wouldn't push it. The seals won't appreciate the dirt that gets in, you'll definitely shorten their lives by driving around that way.

[priest05]

thank you for the advice,but now i’m realizing that i’m not 100 percent sure that it is the steering boot but i will post photos on here later today to help get a better idea.

[Mike W.]

Oh, it definitely happens on lots of cars. A quirk of this chassis is they fail either first or only on the passenger side. Mine did, I didn't spot it during oil changes and I was greeted on vacation to the groaning sound of a PS pump low on oil. Since it was leaking I had to replace the rack, which wasn't fun, but not an awful job either, really not as bad as I expected.

Now here's the interesting part, I looked at the local junkyard first, and even since then out of curiosity, and every one, perhaps half a dozen or so, had the pass boot torn but not the drivers. And all of them were damp although I wouldn't say wet meaning they were leaking some, but not badly.