Can you seal a leaky power steering reservoir?

[4gundrill]

So I have been trying to fix some of the leaks under the hood in my 93. I have a power steering leak that I think is coming from the reservoir itself. The fluid is running out the bottom and down the hose to the pump. I think the PO thought the hose was leaking at the nipple on the res as he added a second hose clamp. I initially just thought it may need a new cap. However, I have completely wiped the reservoir clean and the fluid is not coming from the cap. It appears to be leaking from above the hose and maybe from where the nipple connects to the bottom of the reservoir. I have done a few searches and cannot come up with anything similar for an 80. Does anyone have any tips of how I can seal up the res? Or do I just need to buy a new one?

Thanks!

 

[ajax1]

You could weld it

 

[NLXTACY]

JB weld or a Fast Steel?

 

[Kernal]

Could you post up a photo of the leak?

 

[MoeGasim]

same issue here.....i was wondering would epoxy glue fix it and hold with the oil etc

 

[jwilber]

I would think with all the oil it would be impossible to get epoxy to stick for an extended period of time. And hard to weld for the same reason. It would need to be very clean for either. Including inside the crack itself. Replacement might be the best option...imo

 

[Howard705]

Or Braze or Solder

 

[half k cruiser]

Or Braze or Solder

The torch required to braze it would probably burn off the residual oil and get you a good weld. Hard to find somebody that does good brazing though.

Easiest bet would be to just buy a replacement online. You don't have to get that exact one, it could just be an aftermarket one off of ebay or rockauto.com .

 

[DSRTRDR]

we found the same leak on our 80 - I just bought a new reservoir - IIRC it was under $100 from CDan

 

[LC8pilot]

My '92 had a similar leak. I replaced the o-ring on the nipple and problem solved.

Jason

 

[4gundrill]

My '92 had a similar leak. I replaced the o-ring on the nipple and problem solved.

Jason

I think the reservoirs between 91-92 are slightly different than the 93 and up. However, where is this o-ring? I may have not looked closely enough and missed it.

Thanks for all of the other tips. I think I will pull it this weekend and pressurize it to see if I can pinpoint the leak. I am not a welder but there are guys at work who I am sure could/would fix it for a six pack. If not I also noticed there is a 94 in the local CL that a guy is parting out. I will see what he wants for his.

I will try and post a picture this evening for those interested.

Thanks

 

[LC8pilot]

Probably right - I haven't seen a reservoir for a 93 & up truck. On my 92 the o-ring slips right over the end of the nipple on the bottom of the reservoir.

Good luck. I hate leak gremlins.

 

[Squash]

Just replaced with one from a 1HZ and it is identical. Like others thought at first that it was a clamp or hose

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

So I have been trying to fix some of the leaks under the hood in my 93. I have a power steering leak that I think is coming from the reservoir itself. The fluid is running out the bottom and down the hose to the pump. I think the PO thought the hose was leaking at the nipple on the res as he added a second hose clamp. I initially just thought it may need a new cap. However, I have completely wiped the reservoir clean and the fluid is not coming from the cap. It appears to be leaking from above the hose and maybe from where the nipple connects to the bottom of the reservoir. I have done a few searches and cannot come up with anything similar for an 80. Does anyone have any tips of how I can seal up the res? Or do I just need to buy a new one?

Thanks!

I thought the same thing until I Dyed my power steering fluid. sprayed the res, the hoses and the pump with carb cleaner and wiped it clean, started it up and turned lock to lock at cold start idle and shut it off, looked like it was coming from the top of the hoses until I hit it with the UV black light and realized it had just settled there and was coming from under my cap( wrapped a shop rag around and wire tied It to ensure it was the cap. Bought a new hi cap res for mine. So...If yours is cracked somewhere and your cap is good, let me know and I will make you a sweet deal on a used res.

 

[4gundrill]

Here is a picture of what I am looking at. There is a small gap between the downpipe / nipple and the reservoir itself. Fluid appears to be leaking here and then accumulating on top of the hose. I am almost certain it is not leaking from the cap. The top of the reservoir canister is dry. Thanks for all the help.

 

[shermantank55]

Attempting repair

I found the same leak. Started getting worse, so I drained reservoir (conveniently all over the engine compartment ) , cleaned the seam with brake cleaner and emery cloth, and am using jb weld. I'll let you know if it holds...
Greg

 

[shermantank55]

Attempting repair

I found the same leak. Started getting worse, so I drained reservoir (conveniently all over the engine compartment ) , cleaned the seam with brake cleaner and emery cloth, and am using jb weld. I'll let you know if it holds...
Greg

After a 1000 mile off road trip, the jb weld repair is holding nicely. I am still seeing fluid, only now outside the cap. Anyone replace the cap? Part #? or repair the seal?
Thanks

 

[Funner]

Try replacing the low pressure hose with a section of bulk tubing. Mine leaked at the nipple. PO had added a hose clamp and tightened it up, but the hose was old and stiff and the hose clamp just couldn't secure it well. New hose and spring clamp and leak is gone.

 

[thelal]

"IF" are doing the swap a hose out etc. and you still have a small leak; I used a 'stopper' leak that worked great on mine. Up to that point I'd some "fixen" and lots of variations in p/s stopper fluids via checkers/autozone all to no avail. The 'magic' bottle worked great. If you need info on it I can do find and post up
PS My issue was a junction box for a hydraulic winch

 

[blkprj80]

My reservoir was leaking from the underside of the metal "lid" part. I used pliers to open each tab enough to get it off, then cleaned it real well with solvent. I used FIPG on both sides of the rubber gasket that was in there and put it back together and used pliers to re-crimp the lid back down. No leaks since. I read how to fix it somewhere here on 'mud.