76 L48 with ps here. Got a brand new ps pump and hoses from Zip. The cylinder and valve is original. I continue to have a leak from the hoses around the threads. I used thread sealant and Lucas ps stop leak. As you can see in the picture (not running) it looks like it is not only coming from the thread but also out of the connector itself. Any tricks of the trade here?

 

Hard to say since the hoses are already installed. Could have been several factors at play:

1) When steel hose ends are double-flared, the machine is flaring the steel end and bending inward and back. That's quite a stretch. Sometimes flared ends crack ..in the flaring process. Sometimes the cracks are micro and really difficult if not impossible to see. Just curious if you happened to carefully inspect both surfaces super-careful before installing (for cracks or sealing issues).

2) If hose ends are tightened too tight the flared ends can then crack. So you might want to pull off the end, or the hose. install a couple plastic plugs (so fluid doesn't flow all over the place) and inspect the hose.

3) The inner flare cone on the cylinder could have had some debris in it during installation, a small piece of grit, or it may be slightly damaged from past installations, meaning a flare'd end can't seal very well against it.

4) Sometimes hoses can leak where they're crimped. I can't tell if one of your other hoses (above) is leaking or not. Probably not your issue, but it can happen.

If it's the original slave, I would extend the rod out a little and really inspect the chrome or stainless at the part that is usually in contact with the rod. 90% of the wear occurs at the part of the rod where the wheels are straight. Sometimes it becomes smaller in this region, or chrome chips develop that leak or tears up the seal. If you see that, you might want to replace it anyway, or buy a rod kit. And in the meantime take off the hose and inspect the leaking end. Might need a new hose.

I know you're going to get knee-jerk replies to " install a Borgeson" unit, but try again on the hose/sealing situation. It might have been a defective (cracked) flare when you received it. The 'assist' steering is great when everything is up to specs. And if your steering isn't super tight, maybe soon you plan a steering box rebuild in the next months/years/ etc.

 

All of the above info is spot on. The only thing I would add, is if the hoses are leaking and it is the flare and not the crimp, I would loosen them up just a bit, then kind of turn them a little as you tighten up the fitting. SOMetimes they move as you tighten them up and the flare isn't as good as it could be. But follow what MarkG recommends. It's easy to go off on a tangent.

 

First of all, congratulations on only one leak. I believe our C3s have 8 components to PS system, so theoretically you could have 8 leaks.

For some bizarre reason, several forum members have noted over the years that by removing the hose fitting, wiping the threads off and reinstalling works.
But, skip the sealant and use a "line-wrench".

One of the fittings into the slave cylinder goes in at a angle. If it looks cross-threaded, its not.

 

My new hoses leaked a tiny amount. Unlistenable a tad then retighten, repeat and see what happens. If you have a flare wrench you can make the connector tighter. HF has them for a few bucks, they are also used for brake lines.

 

Thanks for all of the responses. Good thoughts. As I have asked around, lots have said to get a line wrench and to really clean out the seat then retighten. If that doesn’t work the next step would be to buy a new cylinder but may just accept it and buy a borgenson at that point.

 

The two tricks I used on my two cars:

Converted my 80 to factory manual steering.
Converted my wife's 79 to Borgeson.

No leaks, and the steering suits the drivers. If I had an Auto-X car, the Borgeson is worth it for the quicker steering ratio alone.

 

Ditto on the Borgeson. Wonderful steering.