Well I replaced the passenger side bellows (boot) because it burst under pressure so now the driver side burst after that my theory was the power steering pump return lines weren't working properly because the rack & pinion boot fills up and pops
No, if you have power steering fluid leaking into the boot it means your power steering piston/rod/cylinder has leaking seals.
replace the cylinder (what you attached the boots to) or rebuild the packing.
Testimonial: "So is that basically replacing the rack and pinion? The boots have a hole for a small tube on them so I started the car and fluid comes out of this little tube into the boot and just keeps filling so are you saying the relief for the pressure in the boot is in the rod/ piston? And where would I get a rebuild kit for that?"
no. omg. the rack and pinion is exactly that. a pinion gear connedted to your steering wheel shaft, rotating when u move the wheel, and the pinion which moves left and right as u turn the wheel.
the power steering assist unit complicates it more. there is a pressure sensor connected to the unit that knows when u turn the wheel and add a certain amount of pressure. this sensor opens a valve(or it may be the actual sensor valve) that opens pressurized hydraulic flud(power steering fluid) that lets pressurized fluid from the PUMP to apply to the HYDRAULIC cylinder/piston that is connected to your "rack", "assisting" the pressure applied to the turning force.
all of these "pistons" "cylinders" "rams" "rods" that have hydraulic fluid pumped to them must be sealed against the positive(or negative) pressure applied to them from the POWER STEERING PUMP.
seals are usually made of what is called "packings", because they are under pressure and require high pressure sealing. they are usually multi layered seals that fit tightly around the outside of the piston or rod, and inside of the "cylinder". to prevent leaks under often thousands pounds per square inch pressure of hydraulic fluid.
these "seals" or "packings" can be worn or damaged causing the leaks that you seem to have.
replacing those "packings" could possibly fix your leaking problem.
you have to remove the hydrulic "ram" from the vehicle, disassemble the "rod" assembly with piston and check/replace the packing/seals.
it is basically simple, but if you don't have the tools and/or mechanical aptitude, it would probably be better off to just replace the entire unit with used, rebuilt or new unit.
the hole in the boot is for air to pass because boot will compress or decompress. the hole allows this without balooning the boot and blowing it up. the hole is not for a hose
it should also be on the lowest point of the boot.
then if water was sucked in, it could possibly drain out.
rebuild kit would be from mfg of the hydraulic mfg.
if you have the dimensions exactly, you could fin parts from any hydraulic cylinder mfg. where I live there is a company that specializes in hydraulic hose/cylinders/ parts. seek locally for company that does hydraulic hoses, etc. they prob will help you.
if that doesnot work, GRAINGER would probably be your best bet, but you would have to have exact dimensions or specs.
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