elricfate

I, literally, just purchased a 2007 F-150 Lariat on wednesday. Last night I found an oily reddish leak underneath it on the driver's side. It's not terrible but it's not slow enough for me not to be concerned. So I took a picture and and started poking around on the internet and even looked at my Hayne's manual.

I can't figure out for the life of me what this part is that's actually leaking. At first I thought it was that weird (castle nut?) nut looking part, but once I wiped it down and snapped a picture in the daylight I can see it's the bit above it that appears to be the source of the leak. I think this might be rack and pinion related because it looks like it's part of the control arm, but I'm no mechanic.

I'm not mechanically inclined, but I try. I can do brakes, oil, etc. But I've never really dug into anything more complex.

Can someone here, potentially help me identify the part that's leaking? I can't even get that far.

elricfate

Well, looks like I'm pretty sure it's going to require the entire rack to be replaced. I have some family that's also ASE certified (albeit way across the US) who looked at the picture and said that the rack is really a pain in the butt since a lot of it is self contained... and it's not uncommon for it to leak at around 60-80k miles and need the entire rack to be replaced.

Martian

Wait until the weekdays start again before you throw money at that. That's when most of us get on here to review things (lots of sporadic forum browsing while at work during downtime, which is why I'm on now... got called in to fix something).

Martian

Also it IS uncommon... VERY uncommon for it to leak like that / require replacement at 60-80k

elricfate

I phrased that wrong. I meant it isn't uncommon for a leak at that mileage to need the rack replaced because it's almost always something that's a pain in the butt to fix. It's an uncommon problem for sure.

My credit union offers an extended warranty on purchases so I'm looking into that as well. I'll wait for more canaries to chime in before I declare the mine closed.

TOPGLOCK

It's probably a leaky power steering line. The lines like to rust out and by the picture you have some rust in there.

I had my low pressure line leak on my 07 and it looked just like yours. I think I paid around $30 at advance Auto for it. A little pain to change but very doable.

TOPGLOCK

I'm willing to bet this is you're problem

elricfate

Wouldn't you freakin' know it, that's exactly what dad said when he slid under the truck earlier. It wasn't a seal, it was a line. And when I showed him that picture he said "Yep, it rusted and that's where it's leaking"

Like I said, I'm not that mechanically inclined and it's a tight spot, so I might go ahead and take it to my mechanic and have them do it for fear of busting the other lines in trying to fix that one...

TOPGLOCK

Awesome. The other lines might not be to far behind. If you have you're mechanic do it I would just do them all. It's a little pricey but it will be a great piece of mind.

screamineagle

I agree with replacing both lines. I done mine a few weeks ago. High pressure line is a pain but I gotter done in a matter of 2 days lol. Could probably do it in 2 hours if I had to do it again. Hope I never have to though