A new oil spot under my 99 XJ with a 4.0 led to the pressure side power steering hose.

Looks simple to change, almost too simple. Any tips before I start buying parts and spilling fluid? 🙏🏻

 

having the correct size flare spanners to start the job is a good thing

 

You want to jack up the front wheels so they are off the ground and you can turn them side to side.

Obviously, with the Jeep off, unhook both hoses at the gearbox end, and let all the fluid drain from the reservoir. Then reconnect the high pressure hose, fill up the reservoir with new fluid and start turning the steering wheel side to side. This will run the new fluid through the gearbox and hopefully drain out the old fluid stuck in there. Warning, this makes a mess, as the fluid shoots out of the gearbox return hole. So have a big pan underneath to catch it all. I use a concrete mix tub with an oil pan inside. The oil pan catches most of the fluid, and the tub catches the splashes.

Anyway, I would change the return hose too, and you can add a filter to it. Don't be surprised if you have to do it all over again when the pump fails or the gearbox starts leaking. They all start breaking down close to each other.

 

Thanks for the info OT. I'll add a tub and a bunch of shop towels to the parts list.

 

As mentioned just make sure get a line wrench (flare spanner). Also when I did mine "think" I remember having a issue most likely rusted and stuck like every bolt on mine has been.Cutting the line and using a socket and ratchet to break loose.

 

Thanks for the heads up on tools. If there's anything I spend more on than the XJ it's the tools to it takes to keep her together.

 

i had to cut mine off near the nut, then use a big socket. made my job a lot easier.

 

On the pump, I believe the bottom hex is the pressure valve and the hose screws into it. Hold the valve with a wrench while you remove the hose. I replaced the pump on my wife's Caravan and the instructions said to use the old pressure valve because it doesn't come with a new pump. Just a warning not to damage it.

 

Line wrench, as stated above. I think O'Reilly has the parts reasonable and the wrench (mine did). Buy the line and a bottle of fluid, wear eye protection because iirc, power steering fluid can blind you.

At O'Reilly (or any parts store that lets you) remove hose, put on new hose, fill reservoir, start engine, turn wheel back and forth (no need to jack), top off fluid. Drive a while, top off fluid if needed.

 

Crows feet wrenches (https://www.harborfreight.com/7-piec...set-94426.html) will make it a lot easier to get the hoses loose from the steering box. With the crows feet wrenches you can get them loose from above with a socket wrench and extension. I've replaced hoses several times with crows feet wrenches. For the return hose, do try to wiggle it free from the reservoir. It will have fused to the plastic and the plastic extension piece will break off before the rubber hose comes loose. I use a knife and cut the line lengthwise until I can unwrap it from the plastic tube. Learned the hard way the first time.

 

Just beware that a crowsfoot can easily round off the relatively soft nut.

 

That is why you use this type. Napa had them on sale for like $10 quite some time ago. I picked up a set of metric and standard. Even came in a little plastic box. LOL

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7740126

 

If you go with crows foot get the flared nut ones so less chance of rounding off.

 

The only thing better than a tip is one with a link 😊🙏🏻👍

 

Here is the SAE set:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7740125