My inlaws have a 2003 ford ranger. The wife and I borrowed it to haul a few little things to the dump and when I backed it into the drive way we noticed what looked like transmission fluid leaking so i popped the hood and low and behold a seal in the nut that connects the line from the power steering box to the pump had busted. It's the line with the pressure control switch on it. My question is how easy is it to just replace that line. I have felt and looked all over the power steering box, where the steering colum goes, and it feels as if that line is part of the box. I know that doesn't sound right but I cannot for the life of me figure out how that is supposed to come off of there. I cannot see a nut or anything. The new line will be here in a few days I just need to figure out how to get that line off the box and if the whole box needs to be removed to do it is it possible to splice the line where the thick rubber hose is. I know it's a pressurized system so i'm not too sure on that. Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Manul say to draine all fluid, then replace lane, fill PS and bleed it. I did it easier. I used to replace line w/o ATF draining. Just put basin under the truck. Of cource I spilled about glass of ATF but it is easier to add new ATF.

I dont know why, but on my Ranger there are quik connect PS line with nuts for 16mm wrench.

 

thanks for the reply pablo. after getting the new line i figured out how the line was supposed to come off. pretty simple once you look at it but just staring down at the steering box it's kinda hard to see. now I have the line replaced and filled the PS resevior back up. turned on the truck and turned the wheel side to side adding fluid as needed. now there is a slight whine when i turn the wheel and when driving it has a very slight vibration when turning. the belts are still tight and good and everything else is hooked up like it should be. do i need to bleed the system since i had it open? and if so how would i go about doing that. i have never replaced a power steering anything before so i am fairly new to all of this. I just want to make sure i return the truck in the same condition i borrowed it in. thanks to anyone who responds to this.

 

Power steering systems bleed themselves--but you have to do the labor. You should turn the steering wheel fully to the left,then to the right. You have to go to the stops, back and forth(engine running) numerous times(20 left,20 right) see how it feels. Should stop vibrating, and shimmying, and the whine WILL go away on its own. Worked for me when I pulled my power steering unit out to replace timing belt and water pump. Didn't have to, it was just easier and out of the way..

 

ok thanks...i thought it was supposed to work itself out but i just must not have given it enough time. thanks for all the help guys...i will definately be coming back if i ever need help with a ford truck.

 

To bleed PS just turn steering wheel from lock to lock several times, foam appeares in reservour but later dissapeares. Funnny to hear like small air bubbles come throught connections.... strange zzz sound.

Usualli vibration is not related with steering box. May be wheels are not balanced to zero, ore different size/wear tires, may be wheel ajustment is not ok.....

 

It sounds like you still have air in the system.

If the fluid is areated, with lots of small bubbles, it may take a while to work the air out.

Lift the front end off the ground, so you can turn the wheels full left & right, as has been said, but when you get the steering wheel full left & right, come off the stop slightly & hold that position for a 4 second count.

This will help bleed each end of the steering racks cylinder quicker.

So you aren't working with areated fluid, you'll likely have better luck doing this after an over night sit, as it'll give the aerated fluids tiny bubbles time to pop & clear up.

You'll want to get ALL the shudder causing air out, as it can cause the steering wheel to suddenly begin to violently vibrate back & forth at highway speeds.

As this is a pressurized system, you'll also want to wear safety glasses while working on the system with the engine running & do this purge proceedure with the P/S pump reservoir cap on, so any large bubbles burping in the reservoir don't pop all over the engine bay, or give you a facial!!!!
Don't ask me how I know all this, cause I'm still trying to clean up the Taurus engine bay after forgetting to replace the cap on the purge proceedure & swallow my heart, after the vibrations at highway speed, happened to me!!!! lol

Let us know how it goes.

 

Don't ask me how I know all this, cause I'm still trying to clean up the Taurus engine bay after forgetting to replace the cap on the purge proceedure & swallow my heart, after the vibrations at highway speed, happened to me!!!! lol
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