I recently changed my tranny fluid and filter and while doing so I found a bunch of olive green colored grease around the passenger side cv shaft and the boot where the rack and pinion tie into the tie rod end. I personally don't think it'* the cv shaft because there'* not much on that and I checked it out and it seems fine. I'm thinking it'* the rack and pinion possibly, that'* where most of the grease is at. I can't get it clean enough to see if there is a hole or not. Can anyone help me on this topic please?? Has anyone has similar problems?

The rack is only going to have power steering fluid in it. You've blown a CV boot.

Most times what would be leaking from the boots on the rack would be power steering fluid. I suppose it would be possible with a split there that it could leak some grease from the inner tie-rod end.

Does the grease seem to be slung around any? It really doesn't take much of a tear in the CV boot for grease to get thrown out of those due to the rotation speed. Also, the tear is often hidden within the crease of the boot, so you have to push it open some to see it. A torn CV boot is a lot more common than a torn boot on the rack.

also note that we have seen at least a couple failures where the CV boot itself was intact but the clamp was either broken, or loose enough to allow grease to get slung outward.

Yes it is slung around. But I'm wondering if jacking up the car force grease out of something??

I was wondering about a clamp myself

Some pics that he sent me...








Does kind of look like the CV boot. What color is the grease those things have in them from the factory?

<edit> especially in pic #1, it looks like the boot may be split along the top... thoughts?

Yup. That'* a CV joint
Mine looked exactly like that when it went during the Woodburn drag races of 05.

Mine was covered under warranty at the time but I watched the GM tech do the repair.
He simply cut off the boot clamps, after removal of the axle, installed a new boot with grease pack and new clamp. He used a special tool for reinstallation of the clamp.

That confirms it, it is the CV boot that is leaking. Unless a split boot is used, the CV joint has to be taken apart to replace it. Considering time and money, as well as damage that may have done to the CV joint due to moisture and dirt, it may be more cost effective to replace the half shaft, instead of repairing.

If he could obtain a boot kit from the dealer and remove the axle, bring it in and let them crimp it on, he could save a lot of $$