Power steering leak, hose at rack

[TXLX1]

I had a small power steering leak develop around the high pressure input line at the rack. My mechanic buddy tightened up the line about a quarter turn and now I have a significant leak. He thinks the o-ring on the fitting may have torn.

Has anyone seen this before? Is it a matter of just replacing an o-ring? Thanks!

 

[kindred4x]

Sounds like its time for new hoses. The fittings that connect the power steering hoses into the rack are flare fittings. No o rings. The flare may have possibly cracked when tightened, resulting in a larger leak. I just replaced my rack and pinion and installed new hoses due to them being rusted in place. The Toyota hoses are expensive but come as a set and fit like a glove! Totally worth the cost in my opinion.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Sounds like its time for new hoses. The fittings that connect the power steering hoses into the rack are flare fittings. No o rings. The flare may have possibly cracked when tightened, resulting in a larger leak. I just replaced my rack and pinion and installed new hoses due to them being rusted in place. The Toyota hoses are expensive but come as a set and fit like a glove! Totally worth the cost in my opinion.

How much did you spend?

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[TXLX1]

Aftermarket high pressure line is $100-200, so I would guess toyota is $400+. I'll be sure to post again with the resolution. Thanks for the info.

Update: high pressure line is about $225 online for toyota

 

[kindred4x]

Aftermarket high pressure line is $100-200, so I would guess toyota is $400+. I'll be sure to post again with the resolution. Thanks for the info.

Update: high pressure line is about $225 online for toyota

Wow, there must be a huge difference between a 97 and 2002. I just looked at camelback toyota and a hose set for a 1997 4runner part #4441035400 is over 400.00! The hose set for my 2002 was 273.04.

 

[kindred4x]

How much did you spend?

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For my 2002 SR5

High pressure/low pressure hose assembly #4441035570= 273.04
Return line tube/flare connection #44416-04020= 15.02

Free shipping and a 5% Tacoma World discount code also. This was for a 2002.

I also replaced the rack and pinion with a costly Toyota rack, and installed some new lower control arm bushings from Toyota. About a year ago i installed a set of moog LCA bushings and they failed with just daily driving to and from work, pretty disappointing in my eyes. Now though the 4runner rides real nice.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Wtf!? $400 buys a lot of ATF...

 

[kindred4x]

Wtf!? $400 buys a lot of ATF...

For real! I love Toyota parts, especially something like a power-steering hose set that has rubber hose plus steel lines, so the bends and fit are crucial for easier fit and install, but damn $400+ is crazy, i felt like i took a hard hit at 273.00 for a couple hoses but at that price i might consider a good aftermarket brand.

 

[TXLX1]

For real! I love Toyota parts, especially something like a power-steering hose set that has rubber hose plus steel lines, so the bends and fit are crucial for easier fit and install, but damn $400+ is crazy, i felt like i took a hard hit at 273.00 for a couple hoses but at that price i might consider a good aftermarket brand.

If it needs a HP line for $225 or $275 I'll probably end up buying toyota part. It's got an aftermarket rack in it (previous owner) and not sure how long all that aftermarket stuff will last.... I could be back in the same situation soon and out even more money.

 

[JayRolla]

It's rare for the fitting to fail. Hit up a member parting out. Got mine hp hose for $75 on this forum.

 

[TXLX1]

It's rare for the fitting to fail. Hit up a member parting out. Got mine hp hose for $75 on this forum.

I'll look into that, thank you. What happened to your HP hose that it needed replacement?

 

[JayRolla]

I'll look into that, thank you. What happened to your HP hose that it needed replacement?

Told buddy to cut the hose thinking it was the low pressure. My bad!!

 

[Tucson4runner]

Looks like this is one of the problems I am having as well. Looking through old threads and trying to find a decent r&p to replace it with. Reman doesn't seem good so probably ac delco with oem lines.

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[TXLX1]

Looks like this is one of the problems I am having as well. Looking through old threads and trying to find a decent r&p to replace it with. Reman doesn't seem good so probably ac delco with oem lines.

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I'm not going to say the aftermarket rack is my problem yet. However, I'm not sure why the high pressure line would all of a sudden start leaking at the fitting.

The BBB racks on rockauto have 3 year 36k mile warranty and seem cheap with a core (but the hassle of swapping and aligning exists if it fails quick).

 

[JayRolla]

I'm not going to say the aftermarket rack is my problem yet. However, I'm not sure why the high pressure line would all of a sudden start leaking at the fitting.

The BBB racks on rockauto have 3 year 36k mile warranty and seem cheap with a core (but the hassle of swapping and aligning exists if it fails quick).

Being over tq can cause it. Mine has loosened up and I lost all fluid once. Have not had an issue since last time I tightened them down.

 

[TXLX1]

Being over tq can cause it. Mine has loosened up and I lost all fluid once. Have not had an issue since last time I tightened them down.

I heard back from my buddy that has the 4runner and he said the fitting was loose again causing a leak. Not sure how that's possible since I drove it about 15 miles after tightened the first time. He backed off the fitting and re-torqued and said it's dry now.

I'm going to go ahead and order a new line just to have in case. I know I should probably buy a Toyota line, but given the choice between a used Toyota PS line or a new after market, what would you choose?

Thanks all for the support.

UPDATE: went to test drive the truck, and it was leaking again under steering pressure. Not sure why that fitting isn't staying tight. I'm guessing the rack or high line fitting is stripped or damaged. Ordering a new line and hopefully that fixes it.

 

[kindred4x]

I heard back from my buddy that has the 4runner and he said the fitting was loose again causing a leak. Not sure how that's possible since I drove it about 15 miles after tightened the first time. He backed off the fitting and re-torqued and said it's dry now.

I'm going to go ahead and order a new line just to have in case. I know I should probably buy a Toyota line, but given the choice between a used Toyota PS line or a new after market, what would you choose?

Thanks all for the support.

UPDATE: went to test drive the truck, and it was leaking again under steering pressure. Not sure why that fitting isn't staying tight. I'm guessing the rack or high line fitting is stripped or damaged. Ordering a new line and hopefully that fixes it.

You mentioned you had a aftermarket rack? That makes me wonder if the threads for the hose inlets are weak, or stripped like you said causing the flare connection to come loose. Flares are a sensitive type of compression fitting. To loose and it will leak, to tight and the compression will damage the actual flare surface, or strip out something.

 

[TXLX1]

You mentioned you had a aftermarket rack? That makes me wonder if the threads for the hose inlets are weak, or stripped like you said causing the flare connection to come loose. Flares are a sensitive type of compression fitting. To loose and it will leak, to tight and the compression will damage the actual flare surface, or strip out something.

Yes, it has an aftermarket rack in it. The previous owner installed it about a year and half ago and 20k miles ago. It wasn't leaking when I purchased the vehicle a few months ago, so it was dry for about 20k miles.

The shop is going to install a new line on it and if that doesn't work, I guess I'm stuck buying another rack.

 

[treverd]

Great info, thanks for sharing guys.

 

[TXLX1]

Hopefully final update on the high pressure fitting power steering fluid leak...

The HP power steering line near the rack, at some point, was oriented towards the frame rail. There is about a half inch of play in the rack bushings and when the wheels are turned, the rack would move the HP line into the frame rail causing it to loosen (about 1/2" of movement in rack).

The rack was replaced and poly bushings replaced in last 20k miles, but the prior owner told me some of the hardware and sleeves weren't right that came with the poly bushing kit.

My buddy that has the 4runner is going to replace the poly bushings and hardware and hopefully that will take care of the movement in the rack.

UPDATE:

The poly bushings that were in the rack were only 1.5 years old and 20k miles (one piece bushings). I had an oil leak from the half moons and the oil ate up some of the bushing material. My buddy swapped them out for a 2 piece poly bushing that seemed easier to tighten up. I had the oil leaks fixed a few weeks ago, so the new bushings shouldn't get wet.