Power steering - help please
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Power steering - help please
Rolling out of my driveway this morning when I suddenly became aware of how bad life would be with no power steering. The pressure line on my power steering pump blew out of the pump and dumped fluid all over everything.
The line coming from the pump is metal. It has a nut it slides into (similar to a brake line). The nut was in place but the line blew straight out. My question is are these lines supposed to be flared on the end, like brake lines?
Mine is not and I'm wondering if that's why it popped out. I don't know if this is making any sense, if not I can post a picture when I get home tonight.
Basically I want to know if I need to to anything to the line or if i just reinsert it and tighten everything down again. The house next door just sold and there's a cheby guy moving in . . . got to get the truck going again!!!
Btw, happy new year to everyone at FTE!!!
The line coming from the pump is metal. It has a nut it slides into (similar to a brake line). The nut was in place but the line blew straight out. My question is are these lines supposed to be flared on the end, like brake lines?
Mine is not and I'm wondering if that's why it popped out. I don't know if this is making any sense, if not I can post a picture when I get home tonight.Basically I want to know if I need to to anything to the line or if i just reinsert it and tighten everything down again. The house next door just sold and there's a cheby guy moving in . . . got to get the truck going again!!!
Btw, happy new year to everyone at FTE!!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 2
The pressure hose on my 79 just went the other day. Yep, the end is supose to have a flare, and I belive the one end has an O-ring on the nut..can't remeber for sure. But a replacement line from Napa is only $22
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
That line is shot, get a new one.
Put a filter in the return hose whenever you work on a PS system.
Wix transmission/PS filter #58964
200 psi working, pressure relieved, magnetic
change yearly or 12000 miles
Ford equivalent filter kit #XC3Z-7B155-AA
filter alone #XC3P-7B155-BA
Put a filter in the return hose whenever you work on a PS system.
Wix transmission/PS filter #58964
200 psi working, pressure relieved, magnetic
change yearly or 12000 miles
Ford equivalent filter kit #XC3Z-7B155-AA
filter alone #XC3P-7B155-BA
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Thanks guys, I'll go pick one up in the morning. Does the line come with the nut on it, all ready to bolt right in?
Torque, I'm with swann on this one. Is it something I can buy at Napa and if so how much does the filter kit generally cost?
Torque, I'm with swann on this one. Is it something I can buy at Napa and if so how much does the filter kit generally cost?
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
You can buy them at the parts store. Depending on the store they run $15-20. Lots cheaper than a pump or steering gear. Dirt, the stuff that is invisible to the human eye is the worst enemy of hydraulic systems. Put one of these filters on when you change tranny fluid also. People complain about Ford PS systems howling, the reason is dirt, and it only gets worse with time.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Torque, I got the new pressure line and installed it this morning. I picked up a filter also but wasn't able to use it. My return line is sealed just like my pressure line so I don't understand how to fit it in. I guess maybe the filter is for a soft rubber return line? Mine is steel all except about 6" which have typical hydraulic fittings on them.
Anyway, I was very careful not to get any dirt into the ends of the hose or in the pump when I installed the new line. I got it together, filled fluid, turned the pump a bit to get it started, and then fired it up. I turned the wheels to stop, both ways a few times and the fluid foamed up, then settled. All seems to be where it should be now in terms of fluid levels but the pump howls loud any time I turn. It made absolutely no noise before this. Do I still have air in the lines?
Anyway, I was very careful not to get any dirt into the ends of the hose or in the pump when I installed the new line. I got it together, filled fluid, turned the pump a bit to get it started, and then fired it up. I turned the wheels to stop, both ways a few times and the fluid foamed up, then settled. All seems to be where it should be now in terms of fluid levels but the pump howls loud any time I turn. It made absolutely no noise before this. Do I still have air in the lines?
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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You might still have air, but debris may have found it's way into the system. The pump may have run without fluid for a few moments also.There is no filter in them. Unfortunately when they start to howl a filter won't make it go away. Sometimes lines have to be modified in order to install the filter. Lines occasionally have a little more than 6" of rubber line to provide more flex.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: kentucky
Hey Ivan,
Me and you need to stay in touch when something breaks. Mine broke on the 31st. I went to get coffee at the store, got in the truck and POW! The pressure line blew out from the pump. I had just inspected the lines a couple weeks back. Took it all a part and cleaned and replaced the return line to fix a bad leak. Well, replaced the line and still had no power assist. I back off the nuts on the lines and let the air bleed out. While engine running the fluid was all air bubbles. Had serious airlock going on I guess. Well, got the air out and all is fine. Now to the ball joints!
Me and you need to stay in touch when something breaks. Mine broke on the 31st. I went to get coffee at the store, got in the truck and POW! The pressure line blew out from the pump. I had just inspected the lines a couple weeks back. Took it all a part and cleaned and replaced the return line to fix a bad leak. Well, replaced the line and still had no power assist. I back off the nuts on the lines and let the air bleed out. While engine running the fluid was all air bubbles. Had serious airlock going on I guess. Well, got the air out and all is fine. Now to the ball joints!
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Now you know guys there has to be another guy out there that has the same problems, Ya know trouble always comes in threes
Those lines corrode down inside that threaded connector and then the vibration from the engine breaks them. I spray mine with an air hose and WD-40 after I give the engine a bath. Isn't that what WD is supposed to do -displace water? I try to spray off most of the bolts and fasteners that way to prevent rust. I figure that some poor slob (me) is going to have to wrench on all of those bolts sometime... When I put connections like that together I put a thin coat of anti-seize on everything. Just don't get it inside the hydraulic lines.
Those lines corrode down inside that threaded connector and then the vibration from the engine breaks them. I spray mine with an air hose and WD-40 after I give the engine a bath. Isn't that what WD is supposed to do -displace water? I try to spray off most of the bolts and fasteners that way to prevent rust. I figure that some poor slob (me) is going to have to wrench on all of those bolts sometime... When I put connections like that together I put a thin coat of anti-seize on everything. Just don't get it inside the hydraulic lines.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 51
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Mathew106...you're driving a '79 but you mentioned having "power assist"....I thought the 78/79's had full power not the power assist of earlier models?...
Torque...so you're saying that the six inches of rubber on the return needs to be located and install the filter there?
Torque...so you're saying that the six inches of rubber on the return needs to be located and install the filter there?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
Well if the howl is there to stay then I guess I have to live with it for now. I never paid attention to how quiet the steering was (previous to my blowout) until now. It may have been that the pump was running dry for about one minute, while I tried to get it back into the driveway.
In any event my plan is to get rid of the entire Ford steering system this spring and go to a full hydraulic steer through Performance Offroad Systems. Right now my truck wanders all over the road and the stock steering drives me crazy. I'd like to drop the steering box, tie tod and all that and go to a double ended ram. Sean with POS claims that the valves he uses for those systems have almost as much road feel as the stock steering sytem but are as responsive as a rack and pinion.
It's a never ending project, what can I say.
In any event my plan is to get rid of the entire Ford steering system this spring and go to a full hydraulic steer through Performance Offroad Systems. Right now my truck wanders all over the road and the stock steering drives me crazy. I'd like to drop the steering box, tie tod and all that and go to a double ended ram. Sean with POS claims that the valves he uses for those systems have almost as much road feel as the stock steering sytem but are as responsive as a rack and pinion.
It's a never ending project, what can I say.
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: East Tennessee
Can you send me any info on that stuff from NOS?
I am interested in converting from my power assist.
cssps@comcast.net
I am interested in converting from my power assist.
cssps@comcast.net