1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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82 900T, 200k miles. It's been a year since I bought and saved this relic from death. Lots of fluid leaks, many have been isolated and fixed. The power steering rack is the last major leak to repair. The problem with isolating PS leaks is that they only leak when in use, such as driving. Crawling underneath and looking doesn't help, even with the engine idling. Based on the puddle formations, I knew that one of the leaks was the top-most fluid seal where the steering column meets the pinion shaft. The other leak was hard to isolate. All I knew was that fluid would be everywhere along the rack body, tubing and hoses. I thought perhaps the connections to the pump, but those were sound, as were the connecions to the rack itself. Then with a good source of light, a clean towel and determination, I cleaned all the fluid and grime off the rack and hoses, especially the main pressure feed hose, which has that insulation padding over it. I slid the insulation padding up to expose the inner hose and cleaned that off. Then I manipulated the hose back and forth and could see blistering on the hose surface, followed by an oozing. Aha, a simple case of a bad hydraulic hose.
Here's what not to do: Mr fixit here decided to replace that special purpose high pressure hose with oil cooler feed line hose. To do so I had to first loosen the fitting on the rack, no easy chore considering there's no room for leverage. After removing the rack-to-frame bolts, I was able to twist the rack enough to get an 18mm open end wrench up in there and pop the fitting free. Then I sawed the tubing at the point where it meets the crimp coupling on both ends of the hose. My plan was the replace the hose with OEM oil cooler hose, which happens to fit perfectly over the metal tubing, and tighten by using... umm, hose clamp screws over the oil cooler hose. Not wanting a problem, I used two on each end, and I gave them an extra turn for good measure. Yeah, that should do it.
I refilled the PS fuid reservoir, started the car and pulled back down off the ramps. Then to clear the rack of any air, I dutifully turned the wheel first to the right, then... at that point I hear a plooplpffss sound as I simultaneously see fluid spurting up (the hood was open). I turned the ignition off. As expected, the hose had popped off one end of the metal tubing, and within that brief time the entire PS fluid reservoir contents had formed into a sizable pool beneath the car and began heading south.
That was a thursday night. I had no choice but to drive at least two days with no power steering assist until I could find a good scrap yard replacement hose. On sunday evening I had my replacement hose in place. No blisters, no leaks.
The lesson learned here is that power steering fluid is under serious pressure, which is why they use metal wound hydraulic hose with pressure fit crimping instead of oil cooler hose sealed with hose clamp screws.
posted by 152.163.20...
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