Sorry if this has been covered already...the search function on this forum is worthless, I type something in and get hundreds of irrelevant useless returns...hate to be negative but what use is a search function that produces hundreds of irrelevant unwanted returns?

Ok, venting accomplished, here is the problem...

My 1978 SA has a power steering fluid leak. Visual inspection confirms it but no indication of what in the system is leaking. One hint, engine idling, turn steering wheel, gush of fluid from the pump area, drenches the driveway. Without moving wheels, just a slow but steady drip builds on the control valve, but can't tell if the valve is leaking or the fluid is migrating down from a pump leak.

And the way this was designed, the alternator obstructs the view of the pump, and the alternator mounting bracket makes it impossible to remove the pump cap to check level. I use a flashlight and contortions to visually look at level normally, but now with the leak, that's usless too.

So, apparently I'm going to have to remove the alternator and mounting bracket, and then run the engine and turn the wheels and look for what is gushing out where.

The reason for this post is to see if anyone here can save me from that and tell me they've experienced the same thing, and here's what it was and what they did.

Any help appreciated. And if anyone from the forum staff reads this, and I mean it constructively, the search function is worthless and really needs to be redone to be effective if possible.

Thanks in advance for any help, and please excuse me if this post seems frustrated, I tried to keep that out of the tone, but this is a hair pulling experience. From the extremely poor design and maintainability of the pump, to the inability to search and find a solution...ARggggh

 

If you remove the left front wheel support the a-arm on a jack stand and have someone turn the wheel you cannt spot the source of the leak?

 

WOW dude, I've fixed both those problems but they were in different areas.

the gushing came from the seal around the piston shaft and the leaking control valve was the seal between the valve and where the ball lives inside the valve. it leaks past the internal seal and up through the dust cover.

 

The piston shaft? On the pump or the control valve?

The gushing upon moving the steering wheel definitely comes from the pump area, I just can't tell where on the pump.

On the valve, there is a small ball visible by looking from the driver's side at that face of the control valve. It is about a quarter inch in diameter. It does appear fluid might be coming out there, but again I can't tell if it is originating there or leaking down from above and appearing to come from there.

Thanks, and for the earlier reply, I'm hesitant to start the car and move the steering wheel with the car on jack stands, so I'll hold that idea in reserve for now...but thanks though.

 

I move the steering wheel back and forth on jack stands to purge air from the system as per Jim Shea's instructions. I put two under the frame and two under the front control arms.
If it were me I would put it up on stands, you are going to end up under there sooner or later, turn the wheel back and forth and use a flashlight to look for leaks.
Don't forget to look at your hoses and the fitting the hose screws into on the back of the pump.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the inputs...according to the FSM, there should be no need to purge air from the system as that naturally happens during operation. Of course I guess a leak could introduce air but that seems unlikely since the fluid leaking out is presumably under pressure...

I'm still skittish about running a car while up on jack stands, especially if I'm under it.

Recalling that the worst leak came from the pump area, I've purchases a rebuilt pump/reservoir. I think I'm going to have to proceed with removing the alternator and alternator mounting bracket, run the car, and clearly see what is happening. Suspicion is that either there is a hose leak up by the pump, or the pump/reservoir assembly is leaking and therefore needs to be replaced.

This weekend is the next opportunity to deal with this, I'll post again then with what gets found...

Thanks again to all who replied.

 

I wouldn't lay under it while the wheel is being turned either.
I have been able to find the leaks using a flashlight and looking to see where the fluid is. Sometimes you have to wipe it down, turn the wheels crawl back under and check.
I think I have spent more time under my Vette than in it.

 

The pump leak can only be the inlet or outlet houses to the PS pump possibly-not likely to leak where they connect to the PS pump if they have not been disturbed-anything is possible. The more likely source of the PS pump area leak is the seal on the PS pump pulley. I had the pooling of fluid under the pump from a bad pulley seal-rebuilt it myself for $20 a few years ago. All good.

 

My 79 used to dump so much fluid I kept a bottle of PS fluid in the car for long drives. I replaced the valve, hoses and it still leaked like crazy. Finally I found the leak was the big o ring where the pump fits in the reservoir. It took some catalog searching but I was able to find a seal kit for it and have not had a problem since.

 

Thanks all for responses so far...

Removed the alternator and bracket on Saturday, but removing the pump looks like the car will have to be dismantled to get to the bolts and brackets. AND...it looks like the pump isn't the problem, it may instead be the two hoses going to and from the pump.

So...any advice on removing the pump? Can't find a good sequence in either the FSM or on the net. Just things like "unbolt brackets and remove pump". Gee, thanks.

Also, can the two hoses be replaced from underneath without removing the pump?

It amazes me how bad the maintainability is on automobiles. I don't know if it is just sloppy design, carelessness, or what.

Any more help and advice would be appreciated. What a hair pulling experience.