found my power steering leak now what (2 Viewers)

[1morebike]

so after the advice from fellow mud members i finally found my power steering leak. the fluid seems to be coming out of the steering box right were the steering rod from the steering wheel goes into the box. so should i just take the box out and have it rebuilt or is there an easy fix?

 

[KimoSabe]

have it rebuilt or is there an easy fix?

easy fix - start with additive like stop leaks - it should slow down your leak, so in the mean time start dropping coins in the bank for that rebuild

 

[Romer]

could be just the hose and where it connects. I would clean it first and figure out if it is leaking at the connect, then just replace the hose

 

[Crashdix]

This seems to be a common leak spot. Take it from a fellow leaker - fixed mine but spent way too much due to a lack of info! Got a rebuild which solved my leak but later found I COULD HAVE just replaced the steering box input gaskets and that probably would have solved my leak issue. They are available at Rock Auto parts.com and the set is $25 dollars. Pull the steering box, open and replace the rear input seals ( where steering rod goes into box) and you may be good! Wish I had this info before I got a rebuilt for $400 last year but, hey, live and learn. Worth a try for $25!!!! Good luck and let me know if this is a good fix- if so, will add this to a good tech FAQ category

 

[Stevesnj]

I had a similar leak and turns out someone put power steering fluid in my system. I flushed it put in ATF and now it doesnt leak... flush your fluid first, could be bad or wrong type.

 

[1morebike]

i put in the lucas transmission stop leak and it slowed it some but its still there. it did have power steering fluid in but it leaked so bad i kinda figured it would flush its self when i filled it three time with the lucas. i think im just going to send it off to get rebuilt it seems like its going to need it anyway

 

[Tools R Us]

I had a similar leak and turns out someone put power steering fluid in my system. I flushed it put in ATF and now it doesnt leak... flush your fluid first, could be bad or wrong type.

That "someone" likely was Toyota, they all came from the factory with hydraulic oil/power steering fluid.

 

[redeye]

Really? I swore ATF was needed for our power steering systems.

 

[Tools R Us]

Really? I swore ATF was needed for our power steering systems.

ATF is the recommended refill fluid, but isn't what came from the factory. It will work, but in a purely hydraulic system, like power steering, hydraulic oil will be a higher performing fluid, a better choice.

 

[Stevesnj]

ATF is the recommended refill fluid, but isn't what came from the factory. It will work, but in a purely hydraulic system, like power steering, hydraulic oil will be a higher performing fluid, a better choice.

Why do they say to use ATF in the FSM? Seems like a contradiction.