How critical is my situation of Rack and Pinion boot totally ripped open?

[Spottedbat]

I was looking under my engine and noticed the boot on rack and pinion is totally ripped. How much driving can I do until getting it addressed. Can I just get new boots put on or will this turn into a huge expense? Honestly I don't know how long it's been going on...

 

[cas123]

Is it leaking? If so, you need a new rack and tie rods. I had this done last year. If you can do it yourself it is not that expensive but it turned into a pretty expensive repair for me. He also broke the power steering reservoir and replaced that for free. The new one is black though and hard to see the fluid level. The whole thing was a nightmare. Had to get it aligned a couple of times and the boots kept twisting up. We finally got them to stay in place. Mine was leaking which started the whole thing. And making noise. You can get the boots though, with or without tie rods. If it is not leaking that is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/161933279242

 

[cas123]

Is it leaking? If so, you need a new rack and tie rods. I had this done last year. If you can do it yourself it is not that expensive but it turned into a pretty expensive repair for me. He also broke the power steering reservoir and replaced that for free. The new one is black though and hard to see the fluid level. The whole thing was a nightmare. Had to get it aligned a couple of times and the boots kept twisting up. We finally got them to stay in place. Mine was leaking which started the whole thing. And making noise. You can get the boots though, with or without tie rods. If it is not leaking that is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/161933279242

I am not an ebay associate. It just sticks that in there with links.

 

[Spottedbat]

Is it leaking? If so, you need a new rack and tie rods. I had this done last year. If you can do it yourself it is not that expensive but it turned into a pretty expensive repair for me. He also broke the power steering reservoir and replaced that for free. The new one is black though and hard to see the fluid level. The whole thing was a nightmare. Had to get it aligned a couple of times and the boots kept twisting up. We finally got them to stay in place. Mine was leaking which started the whole thing. And making noise. You can get the boots though, with or without tie rods. If it is not leaking that is. https://www.ebay.com/itm/161933279242

Thank you for the advice. I was told my power steering pump was leaking I believe a year ago but I was watching it. Maybe this is the result.

 

[cas123]

Thank you for the advice. I was told my power steering pump was leaking I believe a year ago but I was watching it. Maybe this is the result.

Power steering pump usually makes whining noises when turning in my experience. But if it is losing fluid the rack might be leaking. Need to get it up on a lift and find out for sure. Maybe you can get away with a pump and new boots for the rack.