Huge Power Steering Fluid Dump

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Apr 5, 2006
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Location
Portland, Oregon
In the morning the power steering fluid reservoir was full. My wife drove the land cruiser for the day and said that the steering was squealling and sounding awful. The reservior is empty when I check it. I've looked over the pump before but have never seen any leaks. I followed the hoses out. Front seemed o.k. The hose going back and towards the sidewall suddenly showed wetness. I couldn't find this part in the repair manual. Any idea what exactly is leaking?

PA050022.jpg



And you can see part of the mess below it through the wheel well -

PA050015.jpg



Picture of an apparently nonleaky pump. What do you think?

PA050013.jpg


I followed the hoses out of the front of the pump. Hard to tell if there was anything leaking out of the front.
PA050017.jpg


:beer: Chad
 
Looks to me like your high pressure line failed. Happens.


Mark...
 
Could also be the back seal on the gear box- mine is leaking in there somewhere, but not enough to empty the reservoir. I just have to top it off periodically.
 
i'll agree with mark...looks like the pressure hose gave up the ghost. same thing happened to me a while back...what a mess!
 
That high pressure line is pricy too! There is a gates line from Napa that fits and is much cheaper. One of the few times I would recommend a non-Oem part.
 
Go to any hydraulic shop, the make those hoses, the made me one about a week ago for $35.00 (2600 psi), lot better that OEM.
 
Last edited:
IIRC it's only about a $20 aftermarket part.

Mark...
 
Thank you, that is great news to hear.

I have some fairly basic questions just to clarify so I know what to ask for when I go to Napa or a hydraulic shop. The high pressure tube goes from the back of the pump to the top of the gear housing. Is that where you disconnect and replace the tube? Or is there a hose in the middle of that that is what is supposed to be replaced? I ask because it is where the tube gets wider that is where the leak appears to start. So if I go to Napa is it a tube that fits without trimming or is it a hose? When I go to the hydraulic shop, you are replacing this tube with a high pressure hose, correct?

Thank you,
Chad
PA050022b.webp
 
Probably the high pressure line if it blew it empty that quickly, but I would powerwash the area off and watch for the leak; if it is the HP hose, you will know it in about 10 seconds.

Trivia; I once had a hose rebuilt, but I think Darrell and Darrel doing the work forgot a key step,
like properly crimping one end;
It lasted about 20 minutes; I was pulling into a gas station when it let loose, spraying ATF all over my engine, including the exhaust manifold causing a big fireball. Fortunately, ATF does not burn that well,
so it went out on it's own in a second or two, doing no damage.
 
If you buy the NAPA part it should be the entire assembly from the pump to the steering box and look almost identical to what you have. Just go and ask for the high pressure power steering hose (not the return line) for your year Land Cruiser. I doubt they have it on the shelf but it won't take too long for them to get it in for you.

To change it out unbolt the tube fittings from the back of the pump and the top of the steering box. Compare the new line with the old to get an idea which fittings to disconnect where.

Also remember to refill the system with Dextron ATF NOT power steering fluid.

Nick

Thank you, that is great news to hear.

I have some fairly basic questions just to clarify so I know what to ask for when I go to Napa or a hydraulic shop. The high pressure tube goes from the back of the pump to the top of the gear housing. Is that where you disconnect and replace the tube? Or is there a hose in the middle of that that is what is supposed to be replaced? I ask because it is where the tube gets wider that is where the leak appears to start. So if I go to Napa is it a tube that fits without trimming or is it a hose? When I go to the hydraulic shop, you are replacing this tube with a high pressure hose, correct?

Thank you,
Chad
 
Thanks again everyone for the help. Just as a follow up in case anyone else has this problem. I called CruiserDan and he said that the list price for OEM is $141.21 with a 'MUD discount for $105.91. Napa had an aftermarket line for $42.50 and they were able to get it to me the next day. It apparently has a lifetime warranty according to the box.

It took a 17mm wrench to take off the old line and a 12mm socket to loosen a clamp that held the line. I had to remove some hoses on top to reach the connection between the line and the pump. I accessed the connection at the gear housing through the wheel well. It took a 16mm wrench to put the new Napa line on. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get threads started? It took me forever. Also when I was getting to fill and flush the system I had to cut off the return hose at the spout on the reservoir because it was glued / crimped in place.

:beer: Chad


Here is what the old and new line look like:
PA100077.webp
 

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