power steering leak i think
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
power steering leak i think
the car is a 77 and has anyone ever expirenced a grease fitting leak what appears to be p/s fluid, i went out and looked under the car and a big puddle of what was either liquified grease from the fitting or p/s fluid, the fitting was dripping and was on the drivers side of the steering rack, also the p/s pump reservoir was fairly low, it has leaked in the past but it took a crap last night or sometime today. also i dont know if this is a related problem but it looks like the front wheel hubs are leaking grease, the drivers side wheel hub has a light coating of grease and some dripped down the side of the wheel, this is also the case on the passenger side front but not as bad, I hope that along with the first problem this is minimal but I am afraid im wrong. any advice or help is greatly apperciated.
-alex
-alex
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
I am not certain, but I don't think that grease would drip...if it is dripping and the consistency of PS fluid, then it most likely is since you seem to have a leak and low resevoir.
You have bearing grease in the wheels, but I don't think that it would leak out. You also have ball joint grease...I've seen sloppy jobs where the grease has been smeered all over.
Have you checked your front calipers for leaking brake fluid?
You have bearing grease in the wheels, but I don't think that it would leak out. You also have ball joint grease...I've seen sloppy jobs where the grease has been smeered all over.
Have you checked your front calipers for leaking brake fluid?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
i havent greased the joints in months, also ive read that when the seals are shot in the power steering cylinder the problem I have then occures, in addition I cannot imagine why bearing grease would be leaking out of the hubs, in any case it cannot be good. again any help you can offer in greatly apperciated.
-alex
-alex
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
It could be the seal in the power steering control valve has died...
Ours did that, and ended up leaking P/S fluid out of the zerk fitting on the control valve, and out of the seal that went over the top of the ball joint that connected to the Pitman arm...
Also, check the clamp for the outward flow to the P.S pump, as ours was leaking too...
Ours did that, and ended up leaking P/S fluid out of the zerk fitting on the control valve, and out of the seal that went over the top of the ball joint that connected to the Pitman arm...
Also, check the clamp for the outward flow to the P.S pump, as ours was leaking too...
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Illinois, USA
I just replaced a bunch of power steering stuff on my '77 L-48 because it had been leaking, and it was still leaking and it was a total mess. Plus, many of the hoses exterior rubber coating was missing -- it was time.
I rebuilt the pump and replaced the value, cylinder and hoses (valve and cylinders were rebuilts) and it doesn't leak at all now, and the steering is much more civilized.
When it did leak, it got on the lower A-arm and ran down by the wheel, so it would get on the inside of the tire, at times. However, this was the exception -- not the rule (but I guess it depends on how much it leaks).
In my case, the grease is red and the power steering fluid is more like brake fluid -- mostly clear, so I can tell them apart.
Hope that helps.
Brian.
I rebuilt the pump and replaced the value, cylinder and hoses (valve and cylinders were rebuilts) and it doesn't leak at all now, and the steering is much more civilized.
When it did leak, it got on the lower A-arm and ran down by the wheel, so it would get on the inside of the tire, at times. However, this was the exception -- not the rule (but I guess it depends on how much it leaks).
In my case, the grease is red and the power steering fluid is more like brake fluid -- mostly clear, so I can tell them apart.
Hope that helps.
Brian.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
ive ordered the cylinder and control valve rebuild kits from mid america, the 4 hoses are all new the two off the pump and the two going to the cylinder, I drove the car the yesterday and upon returning home I periodically checked under the car for leaks in the p/s and related area and only saw the a couple drops in the usual places, this was after 3/4 turn tightening the grease fitting on the p/s cylinder iirc or very close to it. in any event in the next week or so I will rebuild the cylinder and control valve.
