Power steering fluid loss

[tigsbirman]

Seem to have to top up quite often. The pump (and around it) seems ok no leaks there that I can see.

Where else should I look????

Cheers
Tigs

[Aidan]

Tigs check the steering rack boots, if they are full of fluid they will drip when turned lock to lock. Other place they leak ime is from corrosion under the rubber clamps that hold the pipes to the chassis and from the flex join in the middle of the low pressure pipe in the middle of the chassis

[tigsbirman]

Cheers Aid

WIll check all those areas

Tigs x

[Epiphone]

Hi, my power steering suddenly stopped working and found out that power steering hose had a hole in and it leaked power steering fluid everywhere.

Is it dangerous to drive a car with broken power steering or simply not a good idea due to new stresses on certain parts now?

does anyone have a layout/diagram of the power steering system?

[Aidan]

driving with the pump being driven with no fluid will shag the pump, if you have to drive it remove the ps drive belt
the system is laid out in the bentley manual and may also be in the haynes I can't remember

[Epiphone]

tried replacing the power steering pipes, the rusted section was up between the petrol tank and floor.

As we didnt want to have to remove the tank we were able to cut out the pipes before and after the tank, and then leaving on the end section of the pipe with the bolt on, we attached some high pressure hose through the middle of the tank (there is a large hole).

Unfortunately, the connection between the pipe and the hose was not strong enough, even with a few ties and also tapering the end of the pipe.

So instead of trying to bodge it or instead of buying old discontinued pipe, decided to buy proper high pressure hoses and replace the whole section of the pipe from front to back, as the back bit looked quite rusted too.

any clue where to get these hoses from, Im back in UK next week in Birmingham area. i.e VW enthusiasts selling hose in Brum area wanted

looked on internet over here in Germany ofcourse, just wondering if cheaper in UK due to weak pound

[jason k]

pm devon dave on brickyard. he makes em in the right material too.

[pkm]

I had a flexible replacement made up by Pirtek, who have branches across the UK. I just used some garden host to work out the exact length, and took the ends of the knackered pipe to them & they made the pipe up there & then. Pirtek also seem to have a mobile service, though I'm sure this would be more expensive.

Rather than running the pump dry, or disconnecting it, you could try just connecting the pump output directly to the reservoir. I didn't try this - the idea occurred to me after the fact.

[Epiphone]

here is pic of the power steering pipe, steering rack side of the petrol tank, finally got round to shrinking the pics

Img_5246_small.jpg

Cutting out the pipe, engine side of the petrol tank

Img_5257_small.jpg

our attempt, but the main line connection couldnt handle the pressure, it was high pressure hose, but the connection between the old pipe and the new hose, wasnt upto scratch

Img_5261_small.jpg

but in the end now have bought some hoses from
http://www.vw-t3-bus.de/lenkungvorderac ... hsatz.html

will be fitting them in the new year

[jed the spread]

I had a flexible replacement made up by Pirtek, who have branches across the UK. I just used some garden host to work out the exact length, and took the ends of the knackered pipe to them & they made the pipe up there & then. Pirtek also seem to have a mobile service, though I'm sure this would be more expensive.

Rather than running the pump dry, or disconnecting it, you could try just connecting the pump output directly to the reservoir. I didn't try this - the idea occurred to me after the fact.

I wouldn't recommend the Pirtec hoses as in my experience (burst two of them) they are rubbish and very expensive. I have the Brickwerks ones on now and they have held out so far and are half the price.

jed

[jamesc76]

If your hoses from Pertek leak then summit is wrong with how they made um I use um load and we have stuff with silly high pressures in them and never had a leak I cant recomend them more plus normally there decent price!

[jed the spread]

If your hoses from Pertek leak then summit is wrong with how they made um

I guess thats my point. My actual experience with the application of Pirtec hoses to the T3 vans power steering (I have it) Is there is summit wrong with them or at least in my experience the gauge of the ones they use in the T3 van application are not up to it. I cant comment on other applications on other vehicles or ways they are used as i have no experience of them used any other way. On the outside they look impressive with the braided tough looking sleeve but the core of them is a thin white plastic tube the size of a Mc Donalds straw. My branch quoted £160 per pipe were as brickwerks is £130 for both and are made more like the VW thick rubber ones, far from Decent price in my actual experience.

jed

[Ian Hulley]

I can't believe that they're held on with jubilee clips !

There are many different hydraulic hoses ... I know at work we're heavy industry but everything we have uses multi-spiral hose which has to be swaged (crimped) onto end fittings and screwed onto the steering rack/pump.

What are the ends on the Brickwerks ones like ?

Ian