So, getting ready for the GTG in Georgia this coming week, I am just about done fixing my power steering leak. The problem hose that I've been trying to track down for a while is supposed to be here tuesday. Unfortunately my Jack blew out on me the other day so I have no way of jacking the truck up to bleed the power steering. My question is, will just driving the truck around bleed the steering for me? Maybe go into a parking lot and do some loops? I have a 2-ton Jack but I do not believe it will pick the front of the truck up.

Now, as for how I blew out my three and a half ton jack. This doesn't have much of anything to do with my current issue but, I figured I would share it anyway for some laughs maybe. What I was picking up was definitely not overloading it but, the Jack was getting old. The local guy that saw my truck and phone number, the one that called me to fix both of his 7.3's, was selling a property that he owns and had a shed in the backyard that needed to be moved. All of the bones on the inside are in great shape. The front and back walls got damaged from a hurricane or something but other than that, the sides and all of the frame and support we're in great shape. He said if you can get it out of there you can have it. So, being broke and shedless like I am, we took my Jack and a bunch of cinder blocks and my 12x6 utility trailer..... Talk about sketchy. I did not know anything about moving a building like this but, my dad said he's done much worse and he is the only reason we were able to get the shed. It was still sketchy. As it has been, all of my weed eaters, edgers, blowers, and chainsaws had to go in the house because I had nowhere to put them. So, even though the shed wasn't in the best shape it was an opportunity to clean out the house.

Anyway, When we were unloading it at our house it actually fell off the cinder blocks and landed on the ground and, this reassured me on how sturdy it was because it didn't hurt it much. Anyway, here's some pictures on the shed that blew out my Jack..... At least it didn't happen while the shed was in the air or my truck was on it.


We ended up borrowing a bottle Jack from one of my buddies to finish the job as you can see in the photo.




It was shortly after this that it fell down. We had gotten it down to three blocks high when it fell. Actually, we were letting the front down to the three block mark. It may have been actually two blocks on the front we were letting it down to, I don't remember but either way, we were trying to let the front end go down so that it was level with the rear, and it started going, so we moved out the way. luckily, the shed landed right close to where we wanted it. We will just stick with the "I planned that scenario before I kicked to the shed over" technique.

 

Ahh, so that's why my insurance was so high before I turned 21....

As to bleeding the steering, I've read, but have no experience, of people putting cardboard under the tires to bleed them and help turn easier. Maybe cardboard along with the underrated jack will be enough lift and slip to help reduce friction enough to bleed

 

The 2 ton should be able to pick one corner at a time we'll enough to slide in a jack stand or blocks. For your purpose you don't actually have to clear the ground. Just get enough weight off to ease the steering.

 

Both good ideas listed above, but my course of action would be what Udsuth78 suggested.

Slowly and cautiously lift one corner at a time just enough to get a jack stand under it. You could also deflate the tires if you have a compressor on site.

 

If you do any metal work and have some pieces of sheet laying around cut 4 pieces to 10"x10" or big enough to take the whole foot print of the tire. Obviously don't use super thin stuff. Some grease between 2 sheets, one set for each side. Place near tires and drive on. This is one way to test acft nose steering without jacking.

 

I am in the middle of replacing my high pressure line going from my hydro boost to my steering gear. How tight are the fittings supposed to be on the steering gear itself? I know we've been over this before but I cannot remember for the life of me.

 

Tristan, I cannot remember for sure, but my brain is telling me 30 ft/lbs...

Although, I believe I posted the installation instructions from the FSM in one of your other threads if you have time to look.

If not, go with the German spec of "guud-n-tite".

 

Tristan, if the fitting has a teflon washer it does not require the same torque as a fitting with say a copper washer. I would use the “good and snug” method sort of like snugging down the fitting on top of the HPOP that uses an o-ring.

 

That's right Sous, you sure did post instructions in the other forum! I always try to read through the manuals when you post them before I do anything! After all, I have the manual now! If only my darned computer would work sometimes! It's time for a new one, it's too slow. But after all, it's not like I can put a torque wrench on it! Unless they make a torque wrench designed to use Crow's feet! Definitely can't put a socket on it!

Thank you kind gentleman!

 

I use the method you mentioned... Crow foot wrench with a 3/8" extension and then a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter on a 1/2" torque wrench.

Don't forget to check for the old o-ring and install a new one.

 

I figured using a crow's foot would throw off the torque reading. I guess you learn something new everyday. Thank you! I ended up not being able to Jack the truck up with the 2 ton jack. It couldn't handle it. I put cardboard under the tires and turned lock to lock for a while, I don't see any leaks anywhere, and now I'm going for a drive. I'll keep you guys up to date! Thank you all again!

 

Might try checking the fluid in that jack. It should have picked up 1 corner at a time. I know I've lifted my truck w/ a 2 ton parts store floor jack before. I had to use a cheater on the handle for extra leverage, but it picked it just fine.

 

It's not that it couldn't pick it up physically, it's that the Jack started making popping sounds sounds that I did not like. It was getting so hard to push the arm down to make it move that I did not trust it to go up any higher with all of those noises going around at the same time. I got the job done anyway but, I definitely need a new Jack.

 

I forgot to come back and post an update! Couple days later and he hose is still not leaking, and my PS pump is still full! The new line that I got was slightly different than the other one. It was shaped exactly the same but, it had a slightly smaller nut on the steering gear side. Everything mounted just fine, only issue I had is, I forgot which way the line was routed! So I routed it what seemed like the best way and did some preventative maintenance on the end of the hoses.

 

Yup..had me a blow out at friends' one in havasu, backing in driveway. Thank God it didn't happen on the 1000 Mile journey on the i40

Them jacks were laying hard, to the left..haha