Power steering line leak - what is this joint???

[Humble Leader]

has anyone ever seen a power steering line leak from here? is this a joint or just a bracket holding the tube? it's leaking pretty bad, pretty sure it's power steering line because I was able to trace back to the reservoir but also when car is on and wheel is turned it looks like reddish fluid is leaking at a pretty good pace out of that joint and pooling in that divot. power steering fluid is on the low side too and I keep all fluids just below max line. the fluid is everywhere. there was no leak about 4 days ago when I used my arb compressor, and I only drove it once since then

161k miles and this is probably the first 'failure' this 4runner has experienced (technically not a failure as in I can still drive the vehicle, but probably not for much longer without adding fluid constantly)

other than corrosion of the line is there anything about this joint that could cause a leak (gasket, etc?). taking it to toyota tomorrow am. I attached two pics, a zoom out and a zoomed in. thanks in advance

 

[katsujinken]

The arrow is pointing to the clamp that is wrapped around the steel tube. It doesn't join two ends of the tube together so that being a leak point is rather interesting. You confirmed fluid is leaking out of the tube under the clamp? I would suspect then the steel tube wall has locally worn down, perhaps due to the tube moving/rubbing under the clamp over time. Since you are taking it to the dealer, you could ask them to show you the tube after they replace it to confirm.

 

[AuSeeker]

From the rust I'm seeing on the bolts in that area I would say the metal line under the "clamp" has a failure/hole in it from rust, also on some areas of the rest of that metal line/tubing I can see what appears to be bubbles on the painted surface of the tubing which could be from rust under the paint and further proof showing the tubing is failing from rust.

 

[Humble Leader]

The arrow is pointing to the clamp that is wrapped around the steel tube. It doesn't join two ends of the tube together so that being a leak point is rather interesting. You confirmed fluid is leaking out of the tube under the clamp? I would suspect then the steel tube wall has locally worn down, perhaps due to the tube moving/rubbing under the clamp over time. Since you are taking it to the dealer, you could ask them to show you the tube after they replace it to confirm.

From the rust I'm seeing on the bolts in that area I would say the metal line under the "clamp" has a failure/hole in it from rust, also on some areas of the rest of that metal line/tubing I can see what appears to be bubbles on the painted surface of the tubing which could be from rust under the paint and further proof showing the tubing is failing from rust.

thanks both - OK so it's just a rusty line then. I was just surprised at how quickly all that fluid leaked out in a short period of time. fluid is definitely leaking from that clamp area. nothing from above. leaks from the clamp area, whether it's under or on the side of the tube is hard to tell. it leaks and then runs down the frame depending on direction of travel / parking angle

 

[flyrv9]

Looks like that line will have to be replaced. I suspect the leak was caused by vibration rubbing between the metal clamp and the line. You might want to replace that clamp with a "P clamp" which is a clamp that has a rubber cushion around the edges; after the line is replaced. Just Google P clamp and you'll see examples. P clamps come in different sizes based on the diameter of the line or whatever is being clamped. They are also called Adel clamps. These clamps (P and Adel) are available on Amazon or at any aircraft supplier like Wicks or Aircraft Spruce and Speciality Co.

 

[AuSeeker]

Looks like that line will have to be replaced. I suspect the leak was caused by vibration rubbing between the metal clamp and the line. You might want to replace that clamp with a "P clamp" which is a clamp that has a rubber cushion around the edges; after the line is replaced. Just Google P clamp and you'll see examples. P clamps come in different sizes based on the diameter of the line or whatever is being clamped. They are also called Adel clamps. These clamps (P and Adel) are available on Amazon or at any aircraft supplier like Wicks or Aircraft Spruce and Speciality Co.

The clamp shown in his photo is a type of "P-clamp/Adel style" clamp, it also has a rubber shield piece that wraps around the tubing to prevent the metal tubing from being in contact and chafed/abraded by the clamp, the leak in that tubing is entirely from rust.

 

[Bmnorm2]

Is that Power Steering line or Transmission Line? My stock PS fluid is yellow/clear. Transmission fluid is red.

 

[rdruss]

Same setup as my 4th gen that leaked same place due to rust. Cut out the bad section and replaced with power steer hose from NAPA and two hose clamps and been fine for couple years now.

 

[Humble Leader]

Is that Power Steering line or Transmission Line? My stock PS fluid is yellow/clear. Transmission fluid is red.

Same setup as my 4th gen that leaked same place due to rust. Cut out the bad section and replaced with power steer hose from NAPA and two hose clamps and been fine for couple years now.

confirmed it's power steering lines with toyota today. the 2012 4runner calls for ATF dextron 2 or 3 to be used in power steering.