POWER STEERING ( 1 of 1 )
The pressure hose started to leak at the pump end where the rubber hose is attached to the hard line. I think when I jacked up the engine to replace the pan gasket that the stress on the old brittle hose caused it to start leaking. At any rate, I’d been wanting to take out the pump and brackets to clean all the oil and dirt off of it. So the cracked hose became another opportunity for improvement under the hood.
Before I disassembled anything, I thoroughly cleaned around the pressure hose connections at the pump and the steering gear. Then I took out the pump, hoses, and brackets. I cleaned all the crud off the pump with the hoses still installed so I wouldn’t get dirt into the system. I bought a piece of hose for the return line and a new pressure line from NAPA.
(
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Re...&Dk=1&Dp=3&N=0
I had to bend the hard line at the pump end a little to clear the bracket, but the steering gear end fit perfectly.
I also got another V-belt for the pump drive. The one that I was using was too long and caused the filler cap to hit the alternator bracket so I couldn't get it off. I'm using a 15345 now and I can get the cap off.
I’ve been driving around for a couple of weeks since I replaced the pan gasket and power steering hoses and its perfectly dry underneath now, not a drip in sight, it’s a miracle.
...
Return hose……..$.10.75
Pressure hose…..…23.91
Hose clamps…....….5.37
V-belt..................9.69
Total...............$.49.72