Power steering leak

So I believe i have found the leak but not sure what the part is called. Its a part that goes after the return line leaves the resevoir. I have a picture from the bottom and pretty sure this ring isnt supposed to be cracked like this. Anyone know a part number. I can find a diagram for my truck.

 

It would be this area on the diagram.

 

Follow that up to where the hose attaches to that hard line. That looks like the rubber in the bracket that protects the hardline.

 

That cracked part is rubber just protecting the Hard line.

At least it is the return line pressure side would be a big mess all the fluid on the engine and ground .

I would look at the joint where the Rubber line meets the steel.

Possible a pin hole rubbed someplace.

Palm Springs unless the Truck has lived in a Winter Chemical State you can rule out the line rusting.

 

I took the skid plates off and they are filthy. The whole underside is covered in what looks like atf fluid. The return line seems to have been wet from over spray. Its really difficult to tell where but it looks like maybe the pump is leaking

 

Yah. Its been in san diego and palm springs its whole life. And no rust on the frame or underneath at all. One good thing about living in the desert.

 

Clean all that off with some brake cleaner then run it and watch for the leak.

 

So i did that. Cleaned everything the best i could. Ran truck for 30 minutes and nothing. Im going to let it sit and check on it in 10 minute intervals

 

Odd... is there fluid remaining in the pump?
For years I dealt with too many issues with the OEM steering garb and went SAC.
No longer issues with steering.

Good luck.

 

yah, still fluid in the pump. I have to replace it about once a day. If I dont move my truck for 24 hrs. There will be a small puddle, about square foot big on the ground.

 

FYI that rubber grommet in your first photo is supposed to be cracked like that. It allows you to install or remove it from the hard line if you need to change it.

I just chased down a leak in my PS system, though I had the opposite problem as you. Air was getting into the system rather than fluid getting out. I replaced the return line from the rack to the reservoir and problem solved.

Reasoning goes like this: fluid leaks are most likely on the pressure line. Because this side of the system is under pressure, fluid leaks out, but air does not usually get in.

Air leaks (you'll know if you have an air leak because your fluid will be frothing, and the pump will make terrible noises as air goes through the vanes) are most likely on the return side, as this side is under some vacuum, or at least relatively low pressure, returning the fluid to the reservoir.

Could also be a leak at the O-ring on the bottom of your reservoir where it attaches to the pump casting.

FYI if you do replace those hard lines there are slight differences between the manual and automatic transmission versions, and probably drastic differences in the 4cyl vs. 6cyl versions, in the way that the hard lines are routed. Make sure you get the correct part. I got a gates brand from rockauto. Figured it's just a tube, so didn't feel like shelling out for OEM.

 

It is also possible that the seal on the pump casting or around the pump shaft are leaking. Hard to say until you get some more fluid to show.

 

well, all of this started after a power steering flush. I did do everything correctly and have since have gone back and quadruple checked everything. I thought at first that it might be the oring where the reservoir seats to the pump because at first, I didn't use an OEM o-ring. I used an o-ring from a variety pack at Autozone. I thought that for sure was the problem so I went and bought an OEM for like $5 at my local yota dealer. I changed that Monday and still have the leak. So I took my skid plates off this morning and are now here. Thanks for that bit of knowledge on what to look out for

 

Hmm. My air leak started after a flush as well. Did you do the method of disconnect return line and run fluid through the system? That's what I did.

My thought was that I kinked the 20 year old rubber and opened a small hole somewhere doing this. Could be that your return hose has a hole up near the reservoir. Re-reading your comment about the fluid leaking overnight, this would fit. So, my suggestion would be to get a $10 piece of hose and replace that last bit of return line to the reservoir. Cheap and easy. If it fixes your leak great.

However, looking at your pics, seems that the return line is pretty clean. Did you put new copper washers on the pressure line? One on each side of the banjo fitting?

 

No. I never removed the pressure lines. I disconected the return and put the return hose into a drain bucket while plygging up the port to the resevoir. I then turned the car on and fed the reservoir atf while it was pumping out old until it was clean.

 

I cleaned the undercarriage pretty good and the areas that had fluid on them. Hoses, pump, etc. Still no dripping. So ill keep it parked overnight. See what i find in the morning. It will be much easier now that the skid plates are off and i cleaned up the undercarriage. But i do now see i need to do a valve cover gasket replacement. Oh well

 

That's what I did too. Except I manually moved fluid by turning the wheels with the engine off.

This is your best bet. Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

Keep us posted

 

Im very reluctant to say it. Because its too good to be true. But the leak is gone. It must have been o ring i was talking about and that much atf fluid was trapped in the skid plate. I mean. I put in the new oring and 3 days later there was still a puddle. But since i took them off. Cleaned the areas and underneath, frame etc. And now 2 days since last post. Ive drove it. Let it sit. No leak. Hallelujah