Power steering leak
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Power steering leak
My power steering developed a leak somewhere around the pump. I cannot actually see where exactly the leak is. The fluid runs down a beam and drips on the ground near the starter. I suspect the seal between reservoir and pump. Did anyone else experience this?
I checked the manual. In order to remove the pump I need to remove the pulley first. The manual specifies that a special tool is required to remove the pulley. Is there some way to remove the pully without that tool?
I checked the manual. In order to remove the pump I need to remove the pulley first. The manual specifies that a special tool is required to remove the pulley. Is there some way to remove the pully without that tool?
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Power steering leak
I've not had any of our various Ford power steering systems develop leaks at the pump, but I have had to remove the pulley on a few to remove the unit.
The special tool is simply a puller designed to lock onto the small groove you see on pulley hub. Most of PS units have very restricted working space and the puller is designed to work in tight spots. AutoZone and Checker both have 'loaner' tools for this, or you can purchase one - they are fairly inexpensive. The same tool works to re-install the pulley as well.
Other pullers cannot grip the groove and using them on the plastic pulley surface is risky at best.
The special tool is simply a puller designed to lock onto the small groove you see on pulley hub. Most of PS units have very restricted working space and the puller is designed to work in tight spots. AutoZone and Checker both have 'loaner' tools for this, or you can purchase one - they are fairly inexpensive. The same tool works to re-install the pulley as well.
Other pullers cannot grip the groove and using them on the plastic pulley surface is risky at best.
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Power steering leak
I excluded a leak at the steering rack / lines going to the steering rack, the puddle would be right underneath.
The location of the puddle would made me suspect the tranny but then I dicovered that I was missing PS fluid. I cannot locate the leak exactly since even under the car, I cannot see too much. Unfortunately, this
thing does not leak strongly while running but the puddle forms a few hours after the engine has been turned off. The only hope I see is to remove the unit and change all seals. This should fix it. A change of fluid and filter (if applicable) would not hurt after 10 years.
The location of the puddle would made me suspect the tranny but then I dicovered that I was missing PS fluid. I cannot locate the leak exactly since even under the car, I cannot see too much. Unfortunately, this
thing does not leak strongly while running but the puddle forms a few hours after the engine has been turned off. The only hope I see is to remove the unit and change all seals. This should fix it. A change of fluid and filter (if applicable) would not hurt after 10 years.
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Power steering leak
The high pressure line is generally well connected with a compression style fitting and rarely leaks unless it has been disturbed during recent repair work. The low pressure, return line on the other hand, uses a band clamp or sometimes a spring clamp to secure the hose to the fitting. This can develop leaks and often a simple tightening or clamp replacement will solve the problem.
The fact that it appears to be a leak down situation after sitting, points more toward a loose return line connection or leaking return line hose. There have been cases where the return line, over time has rubbed against another component and created a leak.
Tracing the leak can be frustrating in these limited access situations. You can get elaborate with UV dyes and blacklights or do simple cloth strips tied at various junctions. Generally, it winds up pulling the PS unit away from the engine, but still connected to the pump gives you sufficient viewing room to identify the source of the problem. 9 times out of 10, something needs replaced and this way, you are half way there.
Post back with your findings.
The fact that it appears to be a leak down situation after sitting, points more toward a loose return line connection or leaking return line hose. There have been cases where the return line, over time has rubbed against another component and created a leak.
Tracing the leak can be frustrating in these limited access situations. You can get elaborate with UV dyes and blacklights or do simple cloth strips tied at various junctions. Generally, it winds up pulling the PS unit away from the engine, but still connected to the pump gives you sufficient viewing room to identify the source of the problem. 9 times out of 10, something needs replaced and this way, you are half way there.
Post back with your findings.
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From: cincinnati hamilton
Power steering leak
i was wondering if you solved your problem yet? i'm having a similiar issue. i get a small puddle of power steering fluid in the driveway each a.m. i talked to a guy who said jack the front up and have your wife start it and turn the steering back and forth , block to block. he said it may show you where it is leaking when under pressure and turned to its full distance. of course i haven't done that yet either...i thought it was my pump, now i think it is the high pressure hose were it is wraped in a metal covering and becomes a metal line...just a thought. i really don't want to take that pump off. 
rick
rick
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Power steering leak
The problem with my pump is, that the puddle forms a long time after the engine has been turned off. Otherwise, I think I would have found the culprit.
Unfortunately, it's not the high pressure hose. I wrapped it with a paper towel - it should have been soaked the next morning. The paper towel was dry, there was a puddle under the car.
What I did now: I did not refill any fluid. Although I have a low reading on the dipstick, I left it that way. Every day, I check the fluid level and look out for puddles under the car. So far, no more missing fluid. My wife has been instructed to check for strange sounds (from the pump). So far, o.k. Maybe the pump puked out excessive fluid......?
I found a new pump at Autozone for $47.....are they that cheap?
Unfortunately, it's not the high pressure hose. I wrapped it with a paper towel - it should have been soaked the next morning. The paper towel was dry, there was a puddle under the car.
What I did now: I did not refill any fluid. Although I have a low reading on the dipstick, I left it that way. Every day, I check the fluid level and look out for puddles under the car. So far, no more missing fluid. My wife has been instructed to check for strange sounds (from the pump). So far, o.k. Maybe the pump puked out excessive fluid......?
I found a new pump at Autozone for $47.....are they that cheap?
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Power steering leak
tomucen,
After re-reading your post about originally thinking this was tranny fluid. Makes it appear as though your leak is well back from the pump. If this is the case and the leak appears at or in back of the cross member, there are two other possibilities to check on.
You could have an end seal on the steering rack that is leaking into the bellow while driving and later, leaks out during the night. Look closely at both the large and small metal band clamps hold the rack bellow on each side for signs of leakage.
The most common place to develop a leak is the top of the input shaft on the steering rack. Due to the location, leakage there can travel a good ways before hitting the ground.
After re-reading your post about originally thinking this was tranny fluid. Makes it appear as though your leak is well back from the pump. If this is the case and the leak appears at or in back of the cross member, there are two other possibilities to check on.
You could have an end seal on the steering rack that is leaking into the bellow while driving and later, leaks out during the night. Look closely at both the large and small metal band clamps hold the rack bellow on each side for signs of leakage.
The most common place to develop a leak is the top of the input shaft on the steering rack. Due to the location, leakage there can travel a good ways before hitting the ground.
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From: cincinnati hamilton
Power steering leak
the mechanic i talked to said a power steering pump with resivor would run about 100$ . he may have ment installed. i haven't priced one yet. rick
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Power steering leak
aerocolorado, thanks - I will check out the steering rack. The loss can be quite large if the reservoir is well filled. After I did not refill fluid and left the level quite low, the loss was very small (just a few drops).
My feeling is, that the fluid comes from the pump, travels down to the crossmember and drips on the floor just near the oil filter / starter. I will also try to wrap up the pump into a paper towel and see whether this will give me some clues.
If the pump was leaking - do you think I can buy this pump (with reservoir) from Autozone for $47 or is it trash? I could also buy a rebuild-kit and take my chance to change the gaskets. What about a pump from the junkyard?
I may have to buy a pulley-puller. Is there a cheap source for such a tool?
My feeling is, that the fluid comes from the pump, travels down to the crossmember and drips on the floor just near the oil filter / starter. I will also try to wrap up the pump into a paper towel and see whether this will give me some clues.
If the pump was leaking - do you think I can buy this pump (with reservoir) from Autozone for $47 or is it trash? I could also buy a rebuild-kit and take my chance to change the gaskets. What about a pump from the junkyard?
I may have to buy a pulley-puller. Is there a cheap source for such a tool?
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Lexington, KY, US
Power steering leak
I just finished having the leak problem. It was coming from the top of the rack. I assume that's what it's called. It has the lines going to it. I bought some power steering fluid with sealer. It said to check it after about 200 miles. It stopped leaking after about 125 miles. I got the van from work for $400 last July and use it for kicking around, Home Depot and Lowes trips and keeping miles off the leased car. 92 3.0L 150,000 miles
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
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Power steering leak
tomucen,
I still wil wager the problem is the rack and not the pump. Your symptoms are sounding more familiar to me all the time. I recently replace my rack due to a leaking input shaft seal. Got the new one in and buttoned up. A week or two later, I was astounded to hear the pump groaning away from lack of fluid. The reservoir was empty! I filled it back up and all was well for another week, then it was gone again. Looking around underneath, I found fluid was escaping into the bellows from a bad rack end seal and then being forced out around the smaller tie rod end. The large clamp apparently was sealing well enough that none was escaping there - yet. When parked overnight, mine did not leak as it was retained within the bellows and was only forced out when driving. I'll bet yours is leaking similarly, but your large clamp is not sealing. I had to replace the rack a second time - a real PITA on the E4WD version.
The location of your leak, I think, really points more to rack problems than pump. If you tie a rag around both pump lines tonight and still have the leak in the morning, it has to be rack related.
I still wil wager the problem is the rack and not the pump. Your symptoms are sounding more familiar to me all the time. I recently replace my rack due to a leaking input shaft seal. Got the new one in and buttoned up. A week or two later, I was astounded to hear the pump groaning away from lack of fluid. The reservoir was empty! I filled it back up and all was well for another week, then it was gone again. Looking around underneath, I found fluid was escaping into the bellows from a bad rack end seal and then being forced out around the smaller tie rod end. The large clamp apparently was sealing well enough that none was escaping there - yet. When parked overnight, mine did not leak as it was retained within the bellows and was only forced out when driving. I'll bet yours is leaking similarly, but your large clamp is not sealing. I had to replace the rack a second time - a real PITA on the E4WD version.
The location of your leak, I think, really points more to rack problems than pump. If you tie a rag around both pump lines tonight and still have the leak in the morning, it has to be rack related.
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Power steering leak
aerocolorado thanks for the hint. I will definitely check out the rack over the weekend. I hope it's not the rack - I get most of my parts from the U.S. and shipping a whole rack will blow up my budget 
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Power steering leak
I checked the steering rack this weekend. I raised the van on jackstands and had my wife start the engine and turn the steering from side to side. I was under the van and checked the rack.
Engine got warm, PS fluid got hot, the rack was dry. I checked all the lines, the rack body, just everything. It's definitely not the rack.
I also took a very close look on the pressure and return line. They are bone dry.
The leak is somewhere at the pump on the engine side. The fluid comes from that area, runs down the beam, collects on a container-shaped part of the frame below the oil filter and drips on the floor.
I will have to remove the pump. From my manual I learned that you need two tools for the pulley: one puller and one installer. Is that so?
I would like to take a look at the pump. Is it possible to remove the pump support bracket with the pump installed or are there some bolts hidden behind the pump? If I removed the whole bracket with the pump, I wouldn't have to worry about pulley tools in the first place. I just want to see where the leak is but even with a mirror I cannot detect it.
Engine got warm, PS fluid got hot, the rack was dry. I checked all the lines, the rack body, just everything. It's definitely not the rack.
I also took a very close look on the pressure and return line. They are bone dry.
The leak is somewhere at the pump on the engine side. The fluid comes from that area, runs down the beam, collects on a container-shaped part of the frame below the oil filter and drips on the floor.
I will have to remove the pump. From my manual I learned that you need two tools for the pulley: one puller and one installer. Is that so?
I would like to take a look at the pump. Is it possible to remove the pump support bracket with the pump installed or are there some bolts hidden behind the pump? If I removed the whole bracket with the pump, I wouldn't have to worry about pulley tools in the first place. I just want to see where the leak is but even with a mirror I cannot detect it.
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Power steering leak
I had this happen on my 89 EB 3.0 version. The leak on mine came from the top seal of the rack where the steering arm was attached. It never leaked while setting but drive a few miles and you could see it.
PS. Never use tranny fluid, This just pushes it out faster..
PS. Never use tranny fluid, This just pushes it out faster..