rack leak leaky power steering rack plug leak fix

[Robert1]

For anyone experiencing this rack fluid leak on a Sierra or Silverado between 07-12 models on the plug that faces the front drivers side and is between the rack and the sub-frame. Get yourself a 1/2" long 1/4" bolt with a 7/16" hex.This will serve as the tool.This is the size of the allen plug hole that needs tightening. Place bolt head in a vise and run another nut down on it until it seats tightly against the bolt head. This will provide a means with which to use a box wrench to tighten plug. Get the box wrench and a short piece of masking tape and push the tape into the 7/16" box end with your finger. This will prevent the bolt and nut from slipping off the wrench while you insert it into the plug drive hole. There is only about 3/4" clearance between the plug and the sub frame of the truck ,so the bolt cannot be longer than 1/2" or you'll never get the hex of the bolt into the plug drive hole.Once you've inserted the bolt head using the wrench as a handle into the plug ,simply tighten the plug enough to stop the leak. Mine only moved about one flat of the bolt head but was sufficient to stop the small weep of fluid that had been accumulating.Remember the box end of the wrench is only on to the nut that you threaded to the 1/2" long bolt with the 7/16" head.

 

Dealers have been changing out the entire rack unit to fix these leaks. I didn't want to go through all of that crap for a simple do-it-yourself fix. Cheers.

[CapitalTruck]

Great post man. That's the sort of thing that keeps me coming back to this forum.

[DaveH71]

There is a TSB out for that leak. Its not actually a leak, they just use power steering fluid to lube the threads during installation and it eventually works its way out. It stops once all the installation lube is gone. I had my truck to the dealer for the same thing. They showed me the TSB and its actually pretty common for these trucks. Mine has stopped leaking.

[4mcrue]

^{Just used this trick on my 2013 6.2 Sierra. 70 miles on it and leaked like crazy.}