Power Steering Again. Hose?

[Benji]

Since the cold weather hit, I have noticed a small PS fluid leak near the gear box. I finally got around to cleaning it up to pinpoint the leak. I noticed the hose clamps on the PS hoses were loose so I tightend them up. Before I drive around and check for leaks I would like to drain and refill the PS fluid (Dexron II, or III ATF). I did a search and several said it can be drained by disconecting the return line and running the engine.

I have poseted some pics of the leak and an a link to the SOR PS diagram. Which number hose is the return line? I have never drained and replaced the PS fluid. Is there any bleeding or anyting else that goes along with it? As you can see in the last pic, I might need to replace the old hoses. Where can I get good replacements? Any other tips would be appreciated.

SOR PS diagram:
http://www.sor.com/sor/cat099b.tam?xax=15265

Cheers, and thanks for all the help.

Ben

 

[Jman]

That leak actually appears to be from the seal between the reservoir and the pump, or maybe even out of the cap. I haven't done the seal between the reservoir and pump, but others have, IIRC. The cap sometimes leaks as well--I just flipped the O-ring in the cap to get a better seal and that fixed it for me, or you can get a new O-ring.

Do you have a functioning smog pump? If so, it might seize if it gets bathed in PS fluid. Oh, don't ask me how I know. . . . .

 

[Benji]

Yeah Smog pump works great. I hesitate to say its the pump as the majority of the fluid is near the gear box. The fluid on the PS pump is residual from filling in the past. I'm not saying the PS pump o-rings might be going bad though. I'll keep an eye out on the pump too.

 

[Benji]

O.K. got all my info from the FSM. Now I need to know the diameter and type of PS hosing I should use. I am going to replace the hoses near the PS pump and gear box. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[swank60]

I think the return line is the one that's on the side of the resivoir, IIRC.

But it's a pain in the butt to replace all that fluid if you totally drain the system. It's a closed system and it takes a bit of fidgetting to get all of the air out of the lines. If you don't absolutely have to do it, I wouldn't mess with it. Also, when I've done it, I pulled the belt off and turned it by hand. I wasn't comfortable with how quickly it bled out with the engine running. Gets everywhere, too.

But that's just me. I've messed with that stupid pump too many times and am a little sick of it.

 

[swank60]

O.K. got all my info from the FSM. Now I need to know the diameter and type of PS hosing I should use. I am going to replace the hoses near the PS pump and gear box. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

I think anything will do really. It's not a high pressure line.

 

[Benji]

Thanks Swank60, I'll take your advice about turning the pump by hand.

 

[Landpimp]

the return line(aka low presure line) is the one with hose clamps(or similar) the high presure line has fittings.

think it was fuel line/hose I used on my low presure lines.

keep an eye(for leaks) on the PS cooler tube, which runs under the radiator, its also the low presure.

 

[David*BJ70]

I change my low pressure line by a brass line..

 

[Benji]

Thanks,
I'm gonna grab some hose and re-do this mess.

 

[soggy60]

low pressure hose ( from steering box, to cooler, to pump reserviour) is , as said before, low pressure: gas fuel line works very well.

High pressure hose , screwed into pump , screwed into steering box
can be either 'repaired' at local hydraulic hose shop or replaced.
Gates makes one ( got the p/n at home) and is about $30 ( thirty)
Yota wants about $300 for 'factory' part . . .

Pete

 

[soggy60]

As for replacing the low pressure hose:
- unscrew all clamps, don't pull hoses just yet.
- be prepared to cut hose w/ utility knife - they harden...
- rags or paper under rig to catch dribble.

Have large cup in hand, remove hose from reserviour, use cup to catch drainage...

Finish removing that hose & the cooler hose ( dribbles everywhere...)

Attach new hoses, don't connect back to reserviour. tighten clamps.

Plug reserv. return pipe with ?
Piont return hose to a catch bin.
Fill reserv with new ps fluid.
rotate pump by hand many times to push new fluid in - air out.
( fsm say do this by starting motor
( sure...reserv empties in a nano & juice is everywhere !

Conect hose to reserv ( catch dribble...) clamp it up.

top off reserv.

check fluid level after 10 - 20 miles of use...

 

[Benji]

Thanks for all the help. Does any one know the diameter of hose I will need. I want to buy all the parts before I take the hoses off.

Thanks

 

[Carpe Discus]

...yeah. Me too. And can you take PS fluid into any auto parts place for recycling like engine oil?

 

[bj60]

Hi ther do not use fuel line for the return used a rubber hose for auto trans. line it cost more but it won't dry out like fuel line.

 

[Carpe Discus]

From today's wrenching: The inside hose diameter (or, at least, the outside diameter of the return pipe out of the side of the reservoir) is 3/8". I was suprised--it really looks like exactly 3/8. That works out to 9.5 mm, so I don't know why that doesn't work out to something metric. The outside diameter of the hose is about 11/16, if that matters. It appears to be under 2 feet long.

I remember reading that this hose should be pliable or squeezable. Is this true? Mine is good and hard.