Power steering, need advice
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Power steering, need advice
I have a 79 L 82 with low milage. The problem is that the power steering fluid has leaked completely out in the last couple of weeks while it has been sitting in the garage making a large mess on the floor. I put it up on jackstands and filled the fluid again but cannot find out where it was leaking from. The system was all new last year! I even started it up while on jackstands and turned the wheel from side to side, but no leaks. What could cause this? Thanks...........LT
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
If you haven't done this already, the best thing to do is to clean the entire area of any fluid and then let the car sit and you should be able to pinpoint the leak. Good luck. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Tried that. For the last couple of days I have had paper towels under the area with no luck....LT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Check the low pressure return line clamp on the back of the pump. Wipe down all the hose ends, wipe down the PS Control valve. Refill the system, fire it up and run the steering lock to lock a couple times and check it again.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Did this a couple of times. Did check the hose clamp on the low pressure side return line. It did tighten down a little but not much. Thanks...LT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Here's a trick I read about that might work. Clean the entire area including the ram, control valve, hoses and pump. Clean them good with a spray cleaner and rags. Then spray the area with a powdered underarm deodorant, the kind that leaves a powdery coating. Then drive the car and any leak will leave tracks in the powder. Don't know if it will work in your situation but you can bet your car won't have underarm odor after this. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Here's a trick I read about that might work. Clean the entire area including the ram, control valve, hoses and pump. Clean them good with a spray cleaner and rags. Then spray the area with a powdered underarm deodorant, the kind that leaves a powdery coating. Then drive the car and any leak will leave tracks in the powder. Don't know if it will work in your situation but you can bet your car won't have underarm odor after this.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Here's a trick I read about that might work. Clean the entire area including the ram, control valve, hoses and pump. Clean them good with a spray cleaner and rags. Then spray the area with a powdered underarm deodorant, the kind that leaves a powdery coating. Then drive the car and any leak will leave tracks in the powder. Don't know if it will work in your situation but you can bet your car won't have underarm odor after this.
Cleaned the whole area last night, dried it and put baby powder all around. Would not leak. As soon as I washed off the powder and put the car away it started dripping again., gotta be a female!
....LT
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
I had the same problem, I found that the power steering pump res. was leaking. and the best way to correct it is to replace it. I have been looking for a pump with a remote to help with with the PITA it is to fill with the alt. belt blocking the fill port.