Power steering line hack-will this work?

So will this work? I have a pinhole leak in this line. I ordered a new line but am unable to to get the one side off (x). My idea is to cut the new line and the line on the truck at the exact same place, flare and put fittings on, then attach the new half of the line to the old line like this (photo 2). Is there any reason it won’t work?

 

Good luck getting a good flare on a old worn line. I have never been able to I gave up trying years ago.

Even more so on the vehicle.

In theory if your flares are good it should work.

If it fails you have now ruined the new line.

I would really try getting the line off .If need be once you have the new line cut the line behind the stuck flare nut the nuts love to seize to the line.

Never seize is your friend reinstalling .

Good luck no matter !!

 

The side that ends at the steering rack, correct? I just replaced my rack and those can be a beotch. I too had to replace the main pressure line for this reason - the line was fine but mangled the flare and there's no way I was going to try and put it back on a new rack.

Are you using a flare wrench or crowsfoot wrenches in a flare configuration? Or did you try an open end and it's getting rounded off?

I wouldn't try adding a union, having just done this work I know there's very little room in there to do a proper flare joint if you try it on the truck. Even if you pull it off, you now have another point of potential failure and leak.

I would focus on getting the line off, especially if you have a new one on hand. I wound up having to go after it with vice grips which really ate up the flare nut.

You may have to remove the sway bar and disconnect the rack from the frame to pull the assembly to the rear to get enough room to work. Just be really careful especially re-assembling, the fitting in the rack is easy to strip and it will split if you overtighten (26 ft lbs is spec for pressure, 36 for return.)

 

Thanks for the replies. I understand about trying to get the other side off. My dad always said it’s easier to do it right than it is to do it wrong! But trust me, he tried, he dropped the rack. Thing is my truck has lived it’s whole life on the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Been driven on the beach. It’s got some rust under it’s skirt. So this was his solution. I said let me run it by the TacomaWorld guys, they’re pretty helpful. The oem line was only $37. However he changed his mind about trying to flare the old line on the truck. He’s gonna go this route on the old line. He probably won’t get to it till next weekend, let you know how it works out. Looks good on paper! Thanks again for your input

 

Well at least it is only power steering you can keep driving when the compression fitting fails.

Compression fittings are not made for high pressure lines .

Best of luck !

 

Just wanted to check back in. Worked like a charm! I did my research…High pressure fitting for high pressure line, new line, tube cutter, two wrenches. Took a little over an hour. Hasn’t dripped a drop! Don’t be mad because I’m a girl…

 

This works nice for small stuck fittings (transmission, power steering, brake bleeders).

$30 Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T Micro Flame Butane Torch Kit, Small, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Bernz-Matic-ST2200T-Micro-Butane/dp/B000PS9TQI?crid=1AHD8Q8VP8R9B&keywords=butane+torch&qid=1693134903&sprefix=butane+%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-16&th=1

 

Glad things worked out !

I am curious what being a Girl has to do with anything though?

 

When I replaced my rack recently, I was having issues with the flare nuts too.
This worked well for me.

GEARWRENCH Flex Head Flare Nut Wrench, 15mm x 17mm - 81689

GEARWRENCH Flex Head Flare Nut Wrench, 15mm x 17mm - 81689 - Open End Wrenches - Amazon.com