Recently started looking for a leak on my 2002 Eclipse... Found a boot around the arm that steers (I think) my car that has been compromised on the passenger front. How serious is this?
I think the leak I was looking for was oil, but I am unsure if it would be smart to go on my ~3000 mile road trip tomorrow with rubber boot leak on one side.
I hit a massive pothole about a month or 2 ago on that wheel.
If the boot has been compromised, the grease that protects the joint and lubricates it will leak out, and foreign matter (grit, brake dust, etc) will get in - this will cause significant extra wear on the joint, and cause it to require replacement much sooner.
However, if you're going on a road trip tomorrow, there probably isn't time to replace it. I'd try to clean it up as best as possible, and re-grease the joint. If it's just a tear, you might be able to get a repair kit to stick it back together, or even wrap it in duct tape to help protect it (at least from debris)
A steering knuckle won't get as much wear as a CV joint would, so it ought to be OK for that distance - but you'll almost certainly have to replace the whole joint when you get back.
