Power steering leaking

[LanceB]

Well I think its toast. Leaked all over the driveway after I brought it home from getting windows re tinted. I guess the most affordable solution is to replace myself with a rebuilt? What all should be removed to get to it? I plan on putting on jacks, take wheels off and remove air cleaner snorkel and alternator for sure.

 

[n8dogg]

depends on what is leaking most can be removed from under the car

 

[LanceB]

Upon inspection, one of my flexible hoses looks in very bad shape and leaking. Hope that is all it is, and looks pretty straightforward as far as replacement. Just worried what other components could be screwed up by having the power steering fluid run out. Guess all i can do is fix what I see (easiest and cheapest first) and see what happens eh?

 

[White75]

Replace all the hoses first since they are easy and cheap. Unless you hear noises, the other stuff may be fine. Even then I would fill the system and look for other leaks before going buck wild and replacing everything

 

[LanceB]

Well it just started making "the noise" yesterday after all of the fluid ran out. So I will start by replacing the bad hose and fill it up with fluid again and keep my fingers crossed

 

[Rex S]

After you R&R the hoses, bleed the system by turning the steering wheel at least 3 full turns lock to lock to purge the air out of the system. If you see air bubbles in the resivore let the car sit a couple hours and check the level again. Pull the car up on some old cardboard or out in loose dirt to purge so you don't flat spot the tires.

 

[LanceB]

Well I don't think there is any way a human being put this godforsaken power steering in. I cannot get to the hose on the back of this pump from top or botttom with any of my stinking tools. Got my alternator out but nothing. I am so ticked off at this car right now. I have had this thing for 10 years now but something breaking every single time I drive it is getting real old. Sorry just venting.

 

[LanceB]

OK I have cooled off now. The clamp holding the hose on the pump is impossible to get to. No wrench I have fits it and the every sort of flathead screwdriver I have won't get it either. Maybe some inverted screwdriver?

 

[bagger]

Keep cool Lance. I replaced the power steering valve, dampener, and all 4 hoses about a month ago on my 79 and all I removed was the driver's side front tire. If your pump has the original clamp on it you can remove it by clamping down on the crimp edge with a sharp pair side cutters. If it has been replaced with an aftermarket clamp you should be able to use a 5/16 or 3/8's (depending on the head size) short wrench to get it off. I replaced the clamp on the return hose of the P/W pump with a 5/16 and using small turns, got it sinched back up with no leaks.

 

[n8dogg]

1/4 drive with extention and swivle will get to it. make sure that you DO NOT have your arm through the steering wheel when you first start it (hurts like hell)

 

[TimAT]

And another built-in gotcha-- watch how the hoses are crossed at either the control valve or the cylinder (I don't remember which). they have to be crossed in the same place or the system gets all funny.

 

[LanceB]

Thanks for the advice. Just going to walk away for a day or so. She tests my patience even though she is failry predictable! I did not take off the tire but I will see if I have better access to it that way. The clamp came decently loose with needlenose pliers (I can turn it on the hose now) but the hose is stuck on there good. Contemplating whether to cut it off or no. Should I lube the new one up with something if I ever get it off?

 

[LanceB]

Well couldnt stand it and went back out there jacked it up a little higher and got all hoses out. Darn TimAT didn't follow your advice and I didn't make a note of exactly how they crossed. I may have to look at by brothers 77 and hopefully duplicate it. The one leaking ran under the other one so hopefully that will help me. Found a huge tear in one of the hoses, nice to find the exact problem, just hope pump is ok.

Think it is about time to clean the whole undercarriage now that I have my new jacks. A clean undercarriage is the only way to easily identify a problem. There is so much old grease, oil and dirt under there is no way to know what is going on.

By the way I wish I had more insight into other peoples problems. I read a lot of posts on here but rarely run across the same problem someone else has had...a lot of gremlins out there i guess! Anyway thanks for being my soundboard

 

[n8dogg]

Lance
Once again be carefull of the steering wheel when you fire it up after you get the hoses replaced if you get them on the wrong way (and they will fit both ways) the wheel will whip to full lock when it startshnoes. While you have it up might as well center steering valve while you are under there.

 

[JohnZ]

Darn TimAT didn't follow your advice and I didn't make a note of exactly how they crossed.

Here's how the hoses MUST be crossed at the outboard end of the control valve; also shown in the N40 section in your Assembly Manual.

 

[LanceB]

So will the whipping only happen if I installed the hoses incorrectly or is this going to happen either way when I start it? I only got the hose that was leaking removed, I got the other ones loose but haven't removed fully. They only come as a set with Willcox and it was suggested I replace them all. I will change each one at a time and ensure it is fitted as the current one and get my AIM out for reference. This whipping steering wheel sounds kinds of scary....

"While you have it up might as well center steering valve while you are under there"

I am not familiar with this procedure either. If it is absolutely necessary when I am changing the power steering hoses then I suppose I will have to look into this as well.

 

[TimAT]

Don't you just love it when a guy pops up with a really GOOD picture of how things are supposed to be??

Thanks John!!

If the steering was working fine before the hose let go, I wouldn't mess with the control valve before I drove it again after new hoses and all the air is gone.

 

[LanceB]

Yes I actually just saw the picture...didn't see it until after I logged in. That helps a lot!

 

[bagger]

If you look at your hoses Lance, you'll see one hose has a bigger loop than the other. The big loop connects to the bottom of the of the power steering valve and to the top of the steering dampener. The smaller loop hose connects to the top of the of the power steering valve and to the bottom of the dampener. Hook them up as picture shows and the wheel will not whip to a lock when started. Wheel will only whip to a lock if connected opposite of picture. Pretty straight forward fix.

 

[LanceB]

Thanks for all of the help guys. Got all 4 hoses replaced last night. Drove to office this morning and no leaks, no noise from the pump. So far so good!