Power steering hose leak and aftermath

[Aspri]

A couple of weeks ago, I started my car and drove off as usual. The problem is everytime I turn the wheels, I hear a terrible sounds coming from the front of the vehicle. I stopped the car and looked at the wheels hoping to spot any obvious but I couldn't. Eventually, I brought it to my regular workshop and had them take a look at it. My first suspicion is that after my 80k servicing a few days back, the mechanic accidentally loosened something or forgot to put something back.

 

However, after a test drive around the vicinity of the workshop and a few looks at the engine bay, I was told that the power steering hose was leaking (the power steering oil container was empty) and it would cost quite a bit to replace (~$300). The part wasn't available so I had to wait a day which was fine. Eventually the hose got replaced and the problem went away for a couple of days.

 

A week later, I just had this urge to check if the replacement was effective. Once again, the container was below the acceptable mark and was noticeably missing quite a bit of the power steering oil. I went back to the workshop again for another check but they couldn't find a leak. They topped it up again and asked me to check it regularly and to come back should the oil level drop again.

 

After some deductions, I think the missing power steering oil went on to fill up the hose and it should be a normal situation. Am I right or should I rigorously check the level every now and then?

[Turbobrick]

Firstly, was it the pressure or return hose that leaked?

 

The hose assembly if replaced with OEM new one should not leak anymore unless the workshop just chopped up some universal fluid hose and clamp into your P/S system

[Yeobh]

Yes you are right, the system is not hydraulically solid - there is too much air bubbles trap in system.

[Gadgeter]

Just monitor the thing for another few week just to make sure.

[Epsilon]

monitor for a week and see how loh.......

[Aspri]

I believe the pressure and return hose is one assembly with 2 valves (wild guess here) since I only saw one part or am I making any sense here at all? I am not even sure where the leak occurred exactly but there was a leak for sure as I saw the puddle of oil under my car in the carpark.

 

I was also advised against installing an OEM one since a last user had to return to the workshop again after the same problem occurred again after 3 months.

[Turbobrick]

The P/S system should have two long hoses with the pressure hose running from the pump to the steering rack then a low pressure return line from the rack back to the reservoir.

 

Try seeing whether which one is damage. I changed a P/S pressure hose on a Jeep Grand Cherokee recently, not too tough and the hose ends are flared for a self-seal.

 

On another note, I retrofitted a stainless steel braided hose in my Merkur's P/S system as the original pressure hard line cracked, so my guess is your pressure hose was the one busted since it's high pressure. The high pressure hose will almost certainly be a hard metal line and the return hose a rubber line.

 

what's your car anyway? I'll see if I can dig up some repair info.

[Aspri]

Sunny VIP 1.5A. It's a JDM. Thanks!

[Turbobrick]

Oh, JDM. I probably don't have info on that since I have info on mainly US market cars only.

 

Have you checked whether was a hard line or rubber line leaking? Sometimes the leak with at the pipe flange.

[Armored_Saint]

Did the mechs remove the steering rack boots and check for any leakage?

[Aspri]

Thanks all for helping me. I think the problem is fixed for the time being. I asked them to check the tightening of all the connection points and I don't think there is any leak for the past 1 week or so already.

 

To answer Armored_Saint's question, they didn't remove the steering rack boots.

 

You lot are the best!