I Need Help Guys!
#1
I Need Help Guys!
Another girl question.... What is this? Is it the power steering pump? Hope you can see; it's leaking around the threads. All wet there. How can I fix this?? Should I try to tighten that nut? I didn't mess with it. Wanted to ask first. Thanks guys.
powersteeringpump001.jpg
powersteeringpump003.jpg
powersteeringpump001.jpg
powersteeringpump003.jpg
#2
that is a steering gear box not the pump the pump is connected to the motor at the other end of those hoses. the power steering lines are not seated correctly. please use a special line wrench to tighten.
#4
You may be able to reduce the leak by tightening the nuts, BUT...
"They all do that."
(And, yes, all of you with perfect cars can now proceed to tell us how yours have never leaked a drop in 100,000 miles. Nonetheless, most did leak throughout their entire service lives.)
- Eric
"They all do that."
(And, yes, all of you with perfect cars can now proceed to tell us how yours have never leaked a drop in 100,000 miles. Nonetheless, most did leak throughout their entire service lives.)
- Eric
#5
Yep, try to snug em with a line wrench. It is possible they were moved long ago and never snugged enough. Over time the seal lost compression and they started to leak.
#6
LOL!! They all leak? I never noticed it before, and as much as I'm under her hood cleaning, I should have. Should I worry? That is power steering fluid leaking, isn't it? I haven't checked the level yet.
#7
If they never leaked, you'd never have to.
And a drip is different from an ooze.
Those are just oozing a tiny bit right now.
If you can get a flare nut wrench on them and snug them up firmly, and clean up the oil residue with some thinner, and they stop leaking, then great.
Otherwise, that sort of slight oozing is why everything in the engine compartment turns black and sticky after a number of years.
- Eric
#9
#11
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
The fluid? It's not corrosive if that's what you were worried about. Power steering fluid is the same as Transmission fluid. So you can use that. In fact look in your 72 owners manual and it will tell you to use Trans fluid in your PS pump. BTW when was the last time you checked Teepos tranny fluid???
That suspension looks like you need to do a front end overhaul The rag joint, steering shaft, PS pump and gearbox are easy to take out and clean up....you know you 'might as well' do it or you'll just be letting Teepo look clean on the surface..
Now I'll go do what you're thinking of saying but can't type here
#12
I never touched those lines when I did the engine, don't blame me!!
My GTO would leak stuff in a few places in the winter, the cold does things, after I put heat in the garage it all stopped.
Larry should put a garage door into your living room.
I heard you have new carpeting so that's good, Teepo wouldn't like parking on that old carpeting you had with all the raccoon and possum damage.
Just get a pair of vise grips, some gnarly gouges and a rounded off fitting never hurt anybody. Just make sure the vise-grips aren't metric or they won't work, righty-tighty lefty-loosey.
I was only kidding!
Remember when Maxwell Smart would tell Heimy the Robot to jump to it and after that he would hop everywhere?
Larry should have a line wrench, don't all guys carry a few sizes of them in their pocket for emergency situations??
My GTO would leak stuff in a few places in the winter, the cold does things, after I put heat in the garage it all stopped.
Larry should put a garage door into your living room.
I heard you have new carpeting so that's good, Teepo wouldn't like parking on that old carpeting you had with all the raccoon and possum damage.
Just get a pair of vise grips, some gnarly gouges and a rounded off fitting never hurt anybody. Just make sure the vise-grips aren't metric or they won't work, righty-tighty lefty-loosey.
I was only kidding!
Remember when Maxwell Smart would tell Heimy the Robot to jump to it and after that he would hop everywhere?
Larry should have a line wrench, don't all guys carry a few sizes of them in their pocket for emergency situations??
#13
Oh Lord!!!!!! Well I'll try to tighten the line and not worry about it much. I just panic when I see something that wasn't there before, lol!! So that leak doesn't mean the gear box is bad or anything, does it??
#15
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Allan??? Zat you Allan??? I missed you.... Started to wonder if you were a filament (bright spot) of my imagination..
That your new ride in the avatar? I LIKE it.
You gonna fill us in on your sabatical? Learn any new languages, visit some exotic places, watch Mr. Dressup a lot??
Good to see you back, and I mean it with all sincerity.
That your new ride in the avatar? I LIKE it.
You gonna fill us in on your sabatical? Learn any new languages, visit some exotic places, watch Mr. Dressup a lot??
Good to see you back, and I mean it with all sincerity.
#16
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
....but if it keeps leaking and starts acting bad you can smarten it right up by telling it you're going to replace it with a 710 thingy. (I never get tired of saying that to you girl) Makes me happy when you give me $hit!
#17
Looking at the picture it appears the high pressure hose is rubbing a hole in the top of the low pressure hose. If no damage is done to the hoses, at least loosen the low pressure hose and reposition. Clamp looks wet in the picture. The leak might be at the rub point.
Last edited by Kajun442; February 4th, 2012 at 07:28 PM.
#18
Looks like we might have the longest "tighten the nut" thread in CO history...
On the other hand, this is a good observation. The return hose should not have been twisted like that from the start - it should point more towards the front of the car to avoid contact with the other hose and to avoid sharp turns like that.
If the hose has a hole in it, cut the clamp off, push the hose down another inch or so and put a new worm drive clamp above the damaged piece. That is the return side so pressure is low there.
If the hose has a hole in it, cut the clamp off, push the hose down another inch or so and put a new worm drive clamp above the damaged piece. That is the return side so pressure is low there.
#19
Allan R...... you're just a shi* tonight, now aren't you??
Kajun.... I didn't even notice that - thanks! I'll check that tomorrow. What kind of clamp is that on the hose?
Rob..... my threads always turn in to long ones for some reason, lol!
Kajun.... I didn't even notice that - thanks! I'll check that tomorrow. What kind of clamp is that on the hose?
Rob..... my threads always turn in to long ones for some reason, lol!
#21
Well, yeah.... she has to have the "correct" type of clamps! So..... where do I find one of these what did Rob call it? Worm drive clamps?? Blue.... do you have any? Fusicks? I have a whole bag of tower clamps, lol, but none of those other kind!
#22
Gal, the seep looks like it is coming up from inside the nut and then running back down the outside of the nut to the threads. I believe tightening it should do the trick. If tightening things up doesn't stop the seep then take the fitting off and put some teflon tape on the threads. Whatever does get by the NPT flare won't get by the teflon.
#23
Do NOT put teflon tape on flare fittings.
The seal occurs at the inside of the tubing where it is flared and is pressed against the opposite surface by the nut. Putting tape on the threads will not reduce the leak, it will only make it harder to fully seat the flared end, and make the leak worse.
There is actually a special type of paste sealant that you CAN use, that goes right at the flared end, which DOES work, and also makes them easier to remove later.
- Eric
#24
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
As you turn the screw, it turns a knurled worm gear inside the housing pulls the clamp tight as it grabs each of those slots cut in the band.
#25
Sorry to be contradictory, but NO.
Do NOT put teflon tape on flare fittings.
The seal occurs at the inside of the tubing where it is flared and is pressed against the opposite surface by the nut. Putting tape on the threads will not reduce the leak, it will only make it harder to fully seat the flared end, and make the leak worse.
There is actually a special type of paste sealant that you CAN use, that goes right at the flared end, which DOES work, and also makes them easier to remove later.
- Eric
Do NOT put teflon tape on flare fittings.
The seal occurs at the inside of the tubing where it is flared and is pressed against the opposite surface by the nut. Putting tape on the threads will not reduce the leak, it will only make it harder to fully seat the flared end, and make the leak worse.
There is actually a special type of paste sealant that you CAN use, that goes right at the flared end, which DOES work, and also makes them easier to remove later.
- Eric
#27
Thanks Allan R., it's really me, my evil twin Redgoat is around too.
I really like the Custom Cruiser, I wish I still had the Vista Cruiser but things happened beyond my control, I'll be getting another something someday. She really came through for me and has a good home in a private European sports car collection in New England now...don't ask.
I do have a couple of those original type power steering hose clamps and you're welcome to them Sandy but I'd try tightening the fitting first. I don't have the crimp tool for them either.
I have line wrenches if Larry doesn't but with all the machines he has at his shop you'd think he would, they may all be huge sizes though.
I had to go buy metric wrenches and those strange shaped sockets and drivers to work on the Custom Cruiser. I've felt dirty ever since and no matter how many showers I take it won't wash off.
You should get that million piece mechanic's tool set from Snears Sandy, a good set of tools could open up a whole new and wonderful world for you, and then I could borrow them too.
999,950 of the pieces in those sets are individual Allen wrenches BTW.
I really like the Custom Cruiser, I wish I still had the Vista Cruiser but things happened beyond my control, I'll be getting another something someday. She really came through for me and has a good home in a private European sports car collection in New England now...don't ask.
I do have a couple of those original type power steering hose clamps and you're welcome to them Sandy but I'd try tightening the fitting first. I don't have the crimp tool for them either.
I have line wrenches if Larry doesn't but with all the machines he has at his shop you'd think he would, they may all be huge sizes though.
I had to go buy metric wrenches and those strange shaped sockets and drivers to work on the Custom Cruiser. I've felt dirty ever since and no matter how many showers I take it won't wash off.
You should get that million piece mechanic's tool set from Snears Sandy, a good set of tools could open up a whole new and wonderful world for you, and then I could borrow them too.
999,950 of the pieces in those sets are individual Allen wrenches BTW.
#28
I don't think this has been mentioned, but slacken the fitting a little before retightening, and this has been said, but x2 on making sure the hoses are properly aligned too.
Btw how chauvanistic are we on this forum?, a lady asks for help and she gets a massive response. Lets not forget the men who have bitten the bullet and admitted they don't know everything about cars.
Roger.
Btw how chauvanistic are we on this forum?, a lady asks for help and she gets a massive response. Lets not forget the men who have bitten the bullet and admitted they don't know everything about cars.
Roger.
Last edited by rustyroger; February 5th, 2012 at 03:15 AM.
#29
#30
Power steering leak
Wow Cutlassgal your leaky pipe has created alot of interest, and now from thousands of miles away in the U.K. Just to let you know my power steering has had a small leak at one of the pipes for years but it takes ages for the level to drop. So you have nothing to worry about just nip it up as the others have suggested, if it was that bad you would soon know about it as the pump would start to make noises and your steering stiffen up. Now as I know you love a Cutlass here is oneMopar Nats 2006 033.jpg more of my 72 Supreme, cheers, Paul.
#31
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Thanks Allan R., it's really me, my evil twin Redgoat is around too.
I really like the Custom Cruiser, I wish I still had the Vista Cruiser but things happened beyond my control, I'll be getting another something someday. She really came through for me and has a good home in a private European sports car collection in New England now...don't ask.
I really like the Custom Cruiser, I wish I still had the Vista Cruiser but things happened beyond my control, I'll be getting another something someday. She really came through for me and has a good home in a private European sports car collection in New England now...don't ask.
BTW, welcome to the metric world. Whattaya need? I gots lots of metric and standards up here
On a serious note. Sandy - your PS hoses are 40 years old now. Last year when I rebuilt my front steering/suspension and brakes I looked seriously at the PS hoses. As you know - one is the pressure line (up to 1100psi or more) at times, and the other is the return line.
When I looked at the hose condition, I thought they were 'just fine'. However, others who will remain nameless (Rob, Eric, Brion etc) strongly encouraged me to replace them as they could be a 'ticking bomb' waiting to go off. Based on a safety philosophy I hold dearly (protect your a$$ at all costs) I spent the $$$ on new hoses and replaced them. It's really not that expensive. A little under 100.00 for peace of mind. In pic 5 you can see the hoses better. They LOOK good, but they were starting to get somewhat brittle. When I cut them open, the inside rubber LOOKED not bad but how do you know exactly where the hose has developed a weak spot? You and Blue or Darryl could change out the hoses easy in about 1/2 hour. Just disconnect the pump first and let it drain into a container. You will be amazed at what comes out. The lines into the gearbox are a snap because they are from the top. (now I had my inner liners out when I did this so it was suuuper easy. Might take a little more effort with them in).
The other thing I did was replace the PS fluid with all new. If you do that, it means either taking off the pump or draining it with a turkey baster. You have to take off the gearbox to drain it. Do not dry turn the steering with no fluid in the pump or gearbox. You should have seen how "dirty black' the fluid was that came out of mine. I'm glad I did this mtce - something that most people don't do. (Bonus? You also have the parts off the car that you might want to clean up for even more trophy's at the shows you go to)
Not saying that you can't get by with the old ones. Just to consider a little light mtce that often gets overlooked. BTW if you do take off the Gearbox and Pump for servicing? That is the PERFECT time to take out the steery intermediate shaft/ragjoint. They are so easy to take apart and refinish even I had no issues doing it.
See?
#32
Leaking Power Steering Hoses
I had mine replaced on my 89 Caprice Classic a few years ago. It was forming a drop where the line bends around at it's low point! I didn't do the work and I'm glad I didn't! The mechanic had a hell of a time breaking the nut loose that goes into the steering box! He had to put a breaker bar over the wrench just to move it!
#33
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
I had mine replaced on my 89 Caprice Classic a few years ago. It was forming a drop where the line bends around at it's low point! I didn't do the work and I'm glad I didn't! The mechanic had a hell of a time breaking the nut loose that goes into the steering box! He had to put a breaker bar over the wrench just to move it!
#35
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Personally I'd look seriously at the ones from In Line Tube (55.00/set) and they look exactly like the originals. http://www.inlinetube.com/PDF%20cata...dsmobile05.pdf Page 74 of this catalogue link
Power Steering Hoses
Pn# - OCE7102 $55.00 set
I have had very good dealings with ILT and recommend them highly. Shipping is usually very quick and fairly priced.
#37
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Did you look at the ones from ILT? I personally think they are a better deal. They have a toll free number you can call and ask if the hoses have striping. The caption under the hoses reads
These sets are concourse correct. The set features the high
pressure supply hose and the low pressure return hose. These
hoses run from the power steering unit to the gear box mounted on
the frame. These hoses dry rot and wear out over time. The
rubber becomes hard and the metal parts rust causing unsafe
hoses.pressure supply hose and the low pressure return hose. These
hoses run from the power steering unit to the gear box mounted on
the frame. These hoses dry rot and wear out over time. The
rubber becomes hard and the metal parts rust causing unsafe
#39
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Have you called them to ask? I would REALLY like to know what their interpretation of 'councourse correct' means. I would think 'concourse' means EXACTLY like the OEM, including stripes. Make the call and let us know ok? It's toll free number.
#40
I checked them out and those hoses look good to me. Their cars are always winning the top awards for original restos so they must know something.
I took my Vista Cruiser to a concours d'elegance and the only thing that really counted was how well you knew the guys on the judging team and if you were a member of the club that sponsored the event, as usual.
"The Inline Tube power steering hoses have the correct tin-coated tube and gold or yellow zinc fittings. The hoses also have the correct pinch clamps and red stripe. Many hoses on these cars have ribs in the rubber or stripes to keep the routing clear for the line workers."
ps hoses.JPG
BTW Sandy, in exchange for all this "guy" info could you come over and vacuum the carpeting in my house and do some laundry for me?
I took my Vista Cruiser to a concours d'elegance and the only thing that really counted was how well you knew the guys on the judging team and if you were a member of the club that sponsored the event, as usual.
"The Inline Tube power steering hoses have the correct tin-coated tube and gold or yellow zinc fittings. The hoses also have the correct pinch clamps and red stripe. Many hoses on these cars have ribs in the rubber or stripes to keep the routing clear for the line workers."
ps hoses.JPG
BTW Sandy, in exchange for all this "guy" info could you come over and vacuum the carpeting in my house and do some laundry for me?