Fiberglass to fix a car leak?? Ghetto repairs. Need ideas

[WOT]

My step brother came down for christmas/new years, 4k mile trip. His power steering sprung a leak out of the tie rod where it meets the rack and its leaking out of the boot. His solution was to buy some permaweld/epoxy of some kind and just seal off the boot. So the fluid cant leak out of the boot.

Heres a pic

Its leaking out of the left side, where the boot meets that mangle fest of glue. Id wanna glass over the first rib of the boot

So he says it still finds a way to leak out of there, pin holes or something I didnt take a harsh look at it because it was pretty messy. But since it is leaking out of the just that end of the boot that is around the tie rod, and doesnt spin and is leaking about coke can a day.

My solution was to fiberglass it.... around the boot, over the boot, seal that mo ****a. My only problem I see is the resin dropping and forming a weird mess, but I can hold it in place somehow right?

A new rack aparently is like $3000+ and that just wont happen, him givin me $20 to temp fix it for aslong as itll last sounded decent.

Any ideas?

Click to read more...

 

[gotparts90 10+ year member]

it leaking from the seal inside the boot is just a cover don't waste your time half assing it see what a reman part is they may have them. if not get a new seal and replace might be a PIA but way cheaper

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I used soap and fiberglass resin to stop a leaking gas tank.

 

[Boris 10+ year member]

What car is it ?

For $3K+ that rack better be diamond encrusted 24K gold.

The boot is just a dust cover, there's a seal inside. The power steering has enough power to turn the wheels under a heavy vehicle, you think your glass is stronger ??

 

[WOT]

Soap?

And like I said, replacing the unit isnt an option, they dont make just a new seal for this car (old lexus) they just sell new steering racks, which are $2200 i think he said, plus install.

And he needs to get home, so the best half assed fix is what Im looking for. And if it leasts for 2 years hes gotta get a new car soon enough anyways

 

[WOT]

And Im not saying the glass will be STRONGER, its BARELY leaking, must just be seaping out of this pump just barely, and out of the boot. I just wanna seal it in the boot.

1- to keep my parents driveway clean

2- to save my sister some $$$

 

[Boris 10+ year member]

Get one from a junk yard and install it your self. Go to any auto parts store and get a re-man and again, install it your self.

No magic to it.

If he has to drive home I would take the serpentine belt off the power steering pump and drive.

It will be a beotch to turn at slow speed but at least he won't kill the pump.

 

[Ferendon 10+ year member]

Just coat the rest of the boot in silicone. It won't stop the leak, but it's flexible, cheap, and not quite as ghetto. Won't last long, though.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

my seal is broken too.

And I'm pretty sure it won't cost you that much. They aren't even that much for BMW's. but I guess idk what kind of car it is.

 

[82 cutlass 10+ year member]

What year and model car ? Shouldn't be more than a couple hundred for a rebuild rack . That's the only way it will stop the leak . Fix it right

 

[aturcotte127317 10+ year member]

i want to hear more about the soap and resin...??? does it make it stronger or what?

 

[WOT]

Its a lexus gs300, i just need the best ideas to patch the boot, wanna try it in the morning, fiberglass surround is still my best option I think

No, buying a whole new rack for the next 3 days hes here is not an option.

And the serp belt doesnt come off just the PS pump, its all one

 

[gotparts90 10+ year member]

get a shorter belt

 

[WOT]

Not my car, and thats not an option

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

Not my car, and thats not an option

Well, you're a picky one. Belt is like, $10 bucks? No more than that... who cares if it's not your car? It's a temporary fix.