Steering Rack Leak On My Brand New 2009 Silverado

ShoddyHog · August 22, 2009

Any of you guys STILL think I should take this in for warranty work instead of taking the 10 minutes to have a look? I can grab those two lines with minimal force and they move.

I must admit...that little plastic spash guard was soooooooooooo difficult to remove

nathan60 · August 22, 2009

id take it in

cerbomark · August 22, 2009

So are you saying it s just loose lines and you tightend them up. If so, when your right, your right.

Starrman · August 22, 2009

So the lines are loose? What's involved in tightening them? How long have you had the truck and how long since you noticed them leaking? Have you checked the fluid level and made sure that it hasn't been operating on low fluid? Hope that's all it was and nothing else was effected or damaged because of low fluid or something.

ShoddyHog · August 22, 2009

So the lines are loose? What's involved in tightening them? Have you checked the fluid level lately and made sure that it hasn't been operating on low fluid?

I checked the lines, but the nut was pretty tight. I just have it another little schnook with a 1/4" ratchet, and wiped it down. If that doesn't do it, then there's just a pinched o-ring in there...or at least my guess.

Truck has 1,000 miles on it, and the fluid is full. This one hadn't leaked enough to form a drip off the control arm mount, so there's no way in hell I'm taking this thing in like that. If it still leaks, I'll have them fix it on a service or if something else needs warranty work.

The HUGE point to take away from this is that I took 10 minutes to find where it is leaking from. I'll be able to SHOW them the leak, and make damn sure they don't rip out the entire rack to fix it. No way the pump is going to go out over that small of a leak. You should regularly check all your fluids.

I noticed it the day I picked it up...they put the truck up on a rack for me to do a "walk under", and I pointed it out to them...but said it was minor and a deal breaker.

Gerry

Sir Dan · August 23, 2009

Are you aware of the very common problem these NBS trucks are having with leaky steering gear units? Take it in and let the pros have a look see. The dealer replaced mine and no problems.

ShoddyHog · August 23, 2009

Are you aware of the very common problem these NBS trucks are having with leaky steering gear units? Take it in and let the pros have a look see. The dealer replaced mine and no problems.

ShoddyHog · August 23, 2009

Are you aware of the very common problem these NBS trucks are having with leaky steering gear units? Take it in and let the pros have a look see. The dealer replaced mine and no problems.

Yeah, I noticed my tire pressure is low. I'll have them check those lines when I take it in for them to replace the air that should be in there.

Sir Dan · August 24, 2009

Not trying to throw down on you or anything, just attempting to be helpful. The service writer I dealt with said that like 20% of the rack and pinions on these trucks are having some type of leak issue and it has to be replaced with a remanufactured unit. You paid for a new truck with a warranty...why not use it now and save yourself some trouble down the road??? If you can tighten the lines yourself and the leak stops, great!... but I'd be watching close for more drips. Happy motoring, dude!

C. Charles Hahn · August 24, 2009

and it has to be replaced with a remanufactured unit.

WTF?? Why a 'remanufactured' unit as opposed to a BRAND NEW unit that doesn't leak? Like you said he paid for a NEW truck with a warranty.... why would they not use NEW parts on it?

ShoddyHog · August 24, 2009

Not trying to throw down on you or anything, just attempting to be helpful. The service writer I dealt with said that like 20% of the rack and pinions on these trucks are having some type of leak issue and it has to be replaced with a remanufactured unit. You paid for a new truck with a warranty...why not use it now and save yourself some trouble down the road??? If you can tighten the lines yourself and the leak stops, great!... but I'd be watching close for more drips. Happy motoring, dude!

That's exactly what I did.

I wasn't trying to throw down on you either...but you obviously didn't read the thread.

Five years ago, I took my Bonneville in to "The Professionals" at Suntrup Pontiac to replace the hot wire from the battery to the starter, and charge the A/C. They called me with the estimate: $2,100!!!

They said they put a pound in the A/C, it leaked out overnight, and they needed to rip the entire dash out because it was leaking into the cabin. They also said my water pump was leaking out the weep hole, and needed to be replaced ASAP.

I refused to let them fix it. I'd just replaced the water pump myself, and it still wasn't leaking when I traded it in for this truck at 207,000 miles.

I purchased a can of R134a from Auto Zone, and it must have been R134a with larger molecules, because that lasted nearly two years. The pump finally failed, and after I replaced it, it never leaked again.

The day after they tried to rip me off, I went back to Suntrup to confront the "Professsional". His boss said, "Oh, we sent him home at lunch because we didn't have enough work to keep him busy."

SOOOO The WHOLE point of my thread is to take 10 minutes to loook at something yourself, or take a tube of KY with you when you go to the dealer. My guess is your muffler bearings are going to need replacement soon.

Gerry

Sir Dan · August 24, 2009

My God man! Your mechanical abilities are out of this world! I'm soooooo jealous.....I'm definitely calling U when my muffler thingies go out. Just Kidding! I'm luck to have had pretty good luck with this dealer so far, but I know they can be real crooks!

ken1mod · August 24, 2009

Gentlemen,

I have had 4 instances of rack leaks, large ones. Two Hondas, one aerostar Ford, my 2000 Silvy. ALL were "fixed" with the addition of SPT oil treatment. The thick crankcase stuff, not the PS stop leak. God help me, I hate stop leaks but this has worked enough that I need to share it with you guys. If you are going to spend hundreds of dollars, try this first. It works. I use about half a can. It has no effect on steering feel (I am very sensitive to this) and just works.

I am not a believer in any additives whatever but this does work.

Ken

C. Charles Hahn · August 24, 2009

SOOOO The WHOLE point of my thread is to take 10 minutes to loook at something yourself, or take a tube of KY with you when you go to the dealer. My guess is your muffler bearings are going to need replacement soon.

Gerry

Depends on the dealer, really. The dealerships I deal with KNOW not to screw around with me like that, because I have no qualms about walking into their shop, showing them exactly what the problem(s) are and informing them EXACTLY what work I want them to do. I'd say 9 times out of 10, I go in with problems accurately pre-diagnosed and just make them do the labor and supply the parts under warranty.

ShoddyHog · August 24, 2009

My God man! Your mechanical abilities are out of this world! I'm soooooo jealous.....I'm definitely calling U when my muffler thingies go out. Just Kidding! I'm luck to have had pretty good luck with this dealer so far, but I know they can be real crooks!

Thank God you're finally realizing my greatness! lol

Seriously though...this thread was in response to another where I said I was going to take 10 minutes to look at the leak, and it was suggested that was a ridiculous thing to do while still under warranty. I don't live next to a dealer and would have to lose an hours work to do it.

I think if you can't take 10 minutes to look at something like this, you should be driving a Toyota truck

That doesn't mean I think everyone should change their own oil like I do...but jeez. Take a couple minutes to look at your own vehicle and take a little responsibility for owning it. That's all I'm saying.

Gerry