So bummed...Power Steering is gushing fluid

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JoesEdge

JoesEdge

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I'm so bummed out.

After reinstalling my steering column (since I painted my dash and redoing my interior), I fired up the car just to finally hear it again and turned the wheel from side to side.

I didn't drive it, because no seats. Anyway, I let it idle for a bit and finally turned it off. And called it a day. Packed up my tools and relaxed for the rest of the weekend. This was this past weekend.

Fast forward to a few days later, I see something shiny from under the car and find that it's power steering fluid (actually, I used ATF - maybe my mistake). I looked in the pump and it was almost dry. Yikes!

I'm guessing it gushed out when it was idling or when I was turning the steering wheel from side to side.

I can't exactly tell where it's leaking from. It's too dark to see at night and haven't had time.

I'm wondering the following:

  • Could reinstalling the steering column somehow damaged the power steering box causing a leak?
  • Would some stop leak help? Or should I bite the bullet and get it rebuilt?
  • How troublesome would it be to remove the steering box?
  • If I bite the bullet should I get it rebult by "Steer and Gear" or "Firm Feel" to Stage III level?

Note: Steer and Gear is almost 100 dollars less than Firm Feel.

What sucks is that I was about to rebuild my front end and this will cut into my "corner carving" budget. Sucks!!!

I'll try to add some pictures over the weekend. I'm also thinking of going to the wreckers for a spare power steering box.
 
JoesEdge said:
I'm so bummed out.

[*]If I bite the bullet should I get it rebult by "Steer and Gear" or "Firm Feel" to Stage III level?
[/LIST]

Note: Steer and Gear is almost 100 dollars less than Firm Feel.

What sucks is that I was about to rebuild my front end and this will cut into my "corner carving" budget. Sucks!!!
Click to expand...

If it is the gear box that is leaking, you might also check on the Borgeson gear box. Especially if you are looking for corner carving. IIRC it was only about $100 more than one from Firm Feel.
 
Don't drive yourself crazy until you see what's leaking. It could be as simple as a return hose. I doubt you damaged anything putting the column back in. If its the pump not a big deal and most external seals on the box are easily replaced. Check out what's happening and repost!
 
When refilling a pump after working on things the fluid get's aerated from the pump circulating air bubbles.
The pump compresses the air in the fluid, then when you shut the engine off the fluid/air expands and blows fluid out.

This is why I recommend people only put in just enough to cover the pump until it has been started and shut off a couple of times.

In other words keep the level of the fluid low until it gets done circulating the air out.

I'll literally bet 5 bucks on this being the cause, or you would have seen fluid leaking while it was running. :D
 
cdavis said:
If it is the gear box that is leaking, you might also check on the Borgeson gear box. Especially if you are looking for corner carving. IIRC it was only about $100 more than one from Firm Feel.
Click to expand...

I would love to get that box, but it's out of my budget.

See... If it's 100 more than Firm Feel, then that's 200 more than Steer and Gear. Also there's a bunch of expensive ancillary pieces that I'll need to go with it such as the 120 dollar coupler, and hoses and stuff. Not to mention shipping.

So basically if I buy that, that means I can't afford half the parts for my front end rebuild.

340doc said:
Don't drive yourself crazy until you see what's leaking. It could be as simple as a return hose. I doubt you damaged anything putting the column back in. If its the pump not a big deal and most external seals on the box are easily replaced. Check out what's happening and repost!
Click to expand...

Yeah...I know more this weekend when I'm able to jack it up and have more daylight.

TrailBeast said:
When refilling a pump after working on things the fluid get's aerated from the pump circulating air bubbles.
The pump compresses the air in the fluid, then when you shut the engine off the fluid/air expands and blows fluid out.

This is why I recommend people only put in just enough to cover the pump until it has been started and shut off a couple of times.

In other words keep the level of the fluid low until it gets done circulating the air out.

I'll literally bet 5 bucks on this being the cause, or you would have seen fluid leaking while it was running. :D
Click to expand...

I didn't have to refill anything (I mean, it had been running and driving previously), but maybe what you're saying could have occurred. I'm hoping that's the case. I'll know more on Saturday.

I'm just anxious because I want to tear into this thing already.
 
Did you turn the wheels with the car off? Also possibly a hose? One thing i learned is things dont make an appointment to break
 
Remove the atf and fill with power steering fluid or hydraulic oil.

Had this leak I just couldn't stop with atf in my ps years ago , replaced with hydraulic fluid and the leak stopped.

Old Mopar systems are not designed for atf
 
Woods74 said:
Didja:

/www.moparaction.com/Tech/beep/PUMP_IT_DOWN-re-v1.4.pdf
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Not sure what you mean. You mean I should try that before getting a box rebuilt to have a firmer feel? Because I have not done that mod. I have read about it though.

I can't wait 'till Saturday so I can see what the hell went wrong.

On a side note, I ordered my new carpet kit. *sigh* Completely off topic, I know!
 
If it has a leak, why not diagnose it and find out exactly what it is, rather than talk about throwing money at a problem you don't even know what it is yet? Diagnose it first. It may only be a loose hose connection or a split in a hose.
 
Ok, so luckily I got home and there was a decent amount of sunlight. I fired it back up and I was able to see where it's leaking from. I took some pictures. So, what do you guys think?

Yikes, after I uploaded it I realized I used a different color of font. Sorry about that!

In the second picture, it puddles up where the arrow is pointing and then leaks down.
 

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JoesEdge said:
Ok, so luckily I got home and there was a decent amount of sunlight. I fired it back up and I was able to see where it's leaking from. I took some pictures. So, what do you guys think?

Yikes, after I uploaded it I realized I used a different color of font. Sorry about that!
Click to expand...

Ah CRAP that sucks.
It would have to be one of the harder things to fix. (input shaft seal)
 
My guess is you'll need more than simply R&R the seal. I cant know what tools were used to get the box coupling off. Maybe a screw driver or something did distort the seal.
If the shaft has loose motion there is wear. Turn the shaft and look for lengthwise travel and try to wiggle it about too. Never did enjoy walking a customer out to my bay and show-n-tell why a seal alone isn't going to cure it. Good luck
 
As Redfish stated, unhook column shaft and make sure steering box shaft doesnt wiggle
side to side.
If not, replace the seal.
I have done this the way it sits without removing gearbox.
Drill small holes through seal on both sides of shaft.
Put screws in holes snug.
Grab screws or pryoutward with diagonalpliers or other to popout seal.
Install new seal tapping gently at first, then use same OD deepwell socket to
finish setting seal flush to gear case or where old one was.

(unless its leaking from case)
 
RedFish said:
My guess is you'll need more than simply R&R the seal. I cant know what tools were used to get the box coupling off. Maybe a screw driver or something did distort the seal.
If the shaft has loose motion there is wear. Turn the shaft and look for lengthwise travel and try to wiggle it about too. Never did enjoy walking a customer out to my bay and show-n-tell why a seal alone isn't going to cure it. Good luck
Click to expand...

I used a rod and tapped the pin out and back in again. The new pin was tighter than the old pin, which required a bit more effort. Perhaps that extra effort distorted the seal.
 
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