Power steering pressure line break

[MrGreenJeans]

Just as I was patting myself on the back for getting that cold start valve sorted I arrived home and discovered a puddle. I have a new line on the way from Roger who was very helpful.

Although he made removal of the old line sound very straightforward I’ve also read some other posts that make it sound more involved with removing components like the alternator to be able to get to the connection at the pump.

Anyone done this job and if so what did it entail?

Thanks! This is for a 78 manual

[MrGreenJeans]

Upon further investigation the high pressure line looks totally dry. I realized most of the fluid seemed to be around the rack, so I looked in the boots and dropped the reinforcement plate to get a look at the rack and connections on top. All dry.

Started the car but it didn’t reproduce the leak and I couldn’t really turn the steering wheel much as I was on ramps.

Currently I’m stumped. My plan is to put the plate back on and go for a VERY short drive getting the steering locked out in both directions and see if I can reproduce the problem and take another look now that I know where all the components are.

[dr bob]

I'm not sure on your early car...

On my S4, the fluid flows from the little filter/reservoir to the pump suction side port. From the pump the fluid routes to the steering rack, at a banjo fitting. The return from the rack follows the same route as the pressure hoe, bun connects to a 'power steering cooler' that a loop of 10mm steel tubing across the bottom of the nose section just forward of the bottom of the radiator and the AC condenser. A fitting-less (plain)hose connects the cooler tubing to the fluid reservoir again to complete the loop. Looking at the stains on the driveway -- was the car sitting in the same place leaking as it is on the ramps in the picture?

On my auto gearbox car, those stains would cause a very hard look at the auto gearbox cooler piping. The plumbing is via steel tubing with rubber hose connecting to the cooler in front and the transmission in the rear. The fittings at the transmission end are both banjo style. Ditto at the front, for the cooler that sits over the AC condenser in front of he radiator.

It's critical that you don't have ATF or steering fluid leaking as you drive, More-so the power steering side, small leaks make a mist of the fluid. That wafts up to the exhaust, and very soon there's a fire. The ATF cooler connections are hose swadged onto the pipe section, with a sleeve "crimped" around the hose, and it collapses around the connection. It's possible to replace the connecting hose pieces in situ, but you'll need the correct connection crimping tools, Mine's hydraulic...