BlairB
New member
Something I posted over on 120, thought I would put it here as well.....
Well today I had my power steering fail while driving from one trail to another in Big Bear. I was going around a corner when the steering started feeling weird and a few seconds later the power steering went out all together. I got on the radio and said I needed to pull over because of what had happened and was told a huge puff of smoke had just come from my truck.
I pulled over and got out of my truck to find fluid that had sprayed everywhere on the passenger side of the engine compartment. There was also a huge puddle where I had parked. I went and checked all my fluids and although I assumed it was power steering fluid, we looked at the outside of the reservoir and it looked full, it was not until we took the cap off that we realized it was bone dry and the reservoir was stained, so we were definitely confused at first.
I pulled my flashlight out and started looking around the engine compartment to find where the fluid was coming from (which was difficult at first as it was everywhere). I noticed that one of the hoses coming off the power steering fluid reservoir had pulled apart from its mount deeper in the engine compartment. As soon as it pulled away I lost all my fluid in a matter of seconds.
Mark saved the day and went to the nearest gas station and bought some power steering fluid. Jim also had a perfect sized hoseclamp to reconnect the hose to the mounting point. (thanks to you both). When I reattached the hose I was able to run it along a slightly shorter route and do not think I will be having the problem again.
Once the fluid is put back in, you just crank the steering wheel lock to lock repeatedly and it will get the air out of the system, and also make a TERRIBLE noise until it does so.
It is pretty clear that this is something that is directly related to the body lift. When the body was lifted the hose stretched just a little too far and this gave way. Who knows, my factory clamp may not have been put on quite as well as most or hose could have been 1/4" shorter, but the fact it happened a week after putting on the body lift is pretty telling. If you have a large body lift, I would just check out the hose.
Anywhere here are some pics of the clamp ,the mess it made and deceiving reservoir from Jim's Big Bear snow run report
Well today I had my power steering fail while driving from one trail to another in Big Bear. I was going around a corner when the steering started feeling weird and a few seconds later the power steering went out all together. I got on the radio and said I needed to pull over because of what had happened and was told a huge puff of smoke had just come from my truck.
I pulled over and got out of my truck to find fluid that had sprayed everywhere on the passenger side of the engine compartment. There was also a huge puddle where I had parked. I went and checked all my fluids and although I assumed it was power steering fluid, we looked at the outside of the reservoir and it looked full, it was not until we took the cap off that we realized it was bone dry and the reservoir was stained, so we were definitely confused at first.
I pulled my flashlight out and started looking around the engine compartment to find where the fluid was coming from (which was difficult at first as it was everywhere). I noticed that one of the hoses coming off the power steering fluid reservoir had pulled apart from its mount deeper in the engine compartment. As soon as it pulled away I lost all my fluid in a matter of seconds.
Mark saved the day and went to the nearest gas station and bought some power steering fluid. Jim also had a perfect sized hoseclamp to reconnect the hose to the mounting point. (thanks to you both). When I reattached the hose I was able to run it along a slightly shorter route and do not think I will be having the problem again.
Once the fluid is put back in, you just crank the steering wheel lock to lock repeatedly and it will get the air out of the system, and also make a TERRIBLE noise until it does so.
It is pretty clear that this is something that is directly related to the body lift. When the body was lifted the hose stretched just a little too far and this gave way. Who knows, my factory clamp may not have been put on quite as well as most or hose could have been 1/4" shorter, but the fact it happened a week after putting on the body lift is pretty telling. If you have a large body lift, I would just check out the hose.
Anywhere here are some pics of the clamp ,the mess it made and deceiving reservoir from Jim's Big Bear snow run report
Eventually we got over to Lytle Creek but Blair got on the radio to announce his power steering was disappearing!
And here is why
A combination of the routing of the return hose and the body lift stretched the hose to the limit. Bouncing on snow kept tugging at it until it pooped on Lytle Creek road
Making a big mess
The empty power steering reservoir fooled us because the dirt on the sides made it look full
But it wasn't!
Expat generously ran back down to a gas station at the freeway and bought some unknown label "Premium" power steering fluid. It even had a picture of a Porsche to let you know it must be good! :rotflmao:
A new hose clamp and ready to start it up.
Just a note that the air in the system will make for some awful sounds when first started, but just run the steering wheel left and right to work it out
