[Bob Lincoln]

Brakes are always emergency repairs. See if you can find a knowledgeable friend to help; if not, budget and address the brakes first, the rest later. How bad is the PS leak? How much fluid is added over what time period? Exactly where is it leaking?

 

[Bob Lincoln]

So, are you topping off the power steering fluid daily? That location could be other things. Do you have 4-wheel drive? If so, it could be the transfer case leaking. It holds transmission fluid. I had a leak there in my Dakota, and it was the front driveshaft seal in the transfer case.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

Have someone double-check the origin of that leak. Transmission fluid, which is in your transfer case, is red. Power steering fluid is typically clear, with a slight bluish tint sometimes, when new. You might not have a steering leak, but a transfer case leak. Crawl under and pull the rubber plug out of the case. On level ground, the fluid should be up to the bottom of the hole. If not, add ATF+4 transmission fluid to it.

If your PS fluid is low, keep it filled or you will ruin anything not already damaged.

Until recent years (and I don't know the cutover date), Chrysler power steering systems could NOT use transmission fluid in them. It was common for mechanics to ignore this and use it anyway. This ruins the system within a matter of weeks or months. A special power steering fluid had to be used. I'm told that on new cars, transmission fluid is OK to use. Your truck may be old enough that transmission fluid is still wrong for it. Consult the owner's manual if you have it.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

Thanks, Bob, true, my 92 Dakota 4x4 is the same. Could be either fluid, but my money's on the transfer case seal. If that much PS fluid leaked every day without being topped off, that new pump would be toast already.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

Read Bob Sheaves' post again.

IF YOU HAVE A 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK, THERE IS NO RACK AND PINION STEERING. It's a recirculating ball steering - parallelogram setup.

 

[Bob Lincoln]

How was it determined that the ball joints are bad? I hate to see people replace things that might not need replacing.