Hey Guys,

So the line for my power steering sprung a leak yesterday. I'm just curious how difficult this thing is going to be to replace & if there are any special tools I will need to switch it out. I live in SOCal & the Jeep has spent it's entire life here so no rust issues. Also, is there any reason to upgrade the line at all or just go with the same stock line?

To be clear, it is the line that runs from the Power steering fluid reservoir down to the actual steering gear.

Thanks for the help

 

Easy to replace with a couple of end wrenches. Make sure you have new O rings

 

If i remember its 20 bucks from amazon and it comes with the 2 o rings....several years ago

 

awesome! Thanks guys

 

Make sure you do NOT try to use an adjustable wrench. You'll round that sucker off in no time.

 

Worst case, cut the line right at the pump and use a socket on it.

 

If you use a flare nut wrench, the risk of rounding the hex head drops to near zero. however if not stuck tight an open end should work, but if she puts up a fight a flare nut wrench is way to go. Or cut the hose and use an 8 point socket as brilliantly suggested.

dont forget to order fluid as some will be lost during this repair. it might be a good time to flush it out and and replace the fluid. You can pump the old fluid out by cranking the motor with fuel pump disabled (pull wire on pump resistor located near left headlight) then crank with the return line from gearbox drained into waste bucket, as the motor is cranked with a helper, new fluid is poured into the reservoir. you will want to cap off the return port on the reservoir during this operation too. now you will have flushed the old fluid out as it fills with new fluid.

 

I'm assuming it's the pressure hose that leaks. I used a crows foot on a long extension to loosen the connection on the box side. I too am in SoCal so it came out pretty easily (also given it was soaked in fluid).

Put the steering box end on first but don't tighten. Be careful not to cross thread. Having the pump end free will allow you to angle the hose better to ensure the fitting starts properly.

 

A crows foot wrench will be your friend for this job. IIRC, I ended up taking out the air box so I could more easily see what I was doing. really simple job. Make sure you bleed the power steering system afterwards. The sounds of a sealed power steering system with an air bubble inside is not a good one.

 

be very careful not to cross thread the hose fitting into the box (I did this)

luckily I have a spare XJ and had to use the one out of that

in order to get that one going again, I carefully filed the damaged hose thread with small triangle file, and was able to refit it to my spare

I was pleased about that

allowing the new fluid to sit for a fair while prior to bleeding will make it easier

 

Hey - you are still alive! Hit me up next time you are out my way.

 

Yo bro! What’s up!

for sure