Needing to change the high pressure side line on my 99 XJ. 4.0 LHD....

Getting leaking out of the fitting that attaches to the top of the steering gearbox. I'm guessing when it was installed, the o-ring was either not seated correctly or a little dirt/foreign matter got on it during the process.
I have the original all steel high pressure line... Unless I find that the end of it is damaged, I may reuse it. Otherwise I'll replace with the new hybrid one that is steel on both ends with the thick 3/8' inch hose in the middle, which I thought strange for such high pressure in the system.
Question: If the vehicle is off (obviously)...and cold... will there be any residual "pressure in the system when disconnecting that line?
Question: I've stocked the Internet as much as I can...and have not found a definitive answer as to WHAT FRICKING FLUID is the correct stuff to put in it.
1999 Cherokee XJ, 4.0L. I believe the 4x4 shop that helped me with the gearbox last year used the same ATF that was in the trans. They're a professional 4x4 shop and even they couldn't find specific documentation confirming what was correct.
I don't want to damage anything... I already replaced the pump like 2 yrs ago... that was a PITA to do myself without a shop to do it in.
The only thing I've somewhat seen consistently is that I believe there was something different on the WJ's of same vintage that required a special fluid. But NOTHING showing what is recommended for XJ's.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!
Oh....and anyone know if there's a spec for how tight that fitting should be cranked down? As tight as you can get it? or just before that?
I don't want to over crush the rubber o-ring and cause a leak. Plus... do you lube that up the o-ring with anything prior to install to keep from leaking?

 

The factory pressure line is rubber with crimped ends. You might be looking at the trans cooler lines. If it’s not leaking at one of the crimped sections, you can replace just the o-ring. It may just need to be snugged a bit. It’s a little difficult to get torqued. That’s why I’m saying that. I use a line wrench and a pry bar. A line wrench style crows foot works the best. 18mm
There’s no residual pressure and I use swepco. Only because that’s what PSC suggests for their pumps. Lube the o ring with PS fluid and it only needs to be tight enough as not to leak. They are fairly snug though.

 

Nope .... this IS the high pressure side of the power steering pump to the steering gearbox.
thanks.
Because it's all steel, it's original to the jeep as those unless they become damaged, can easily last the life of the vehicle.
The low pressure side return is rubber and has been replaced once before and does have short metal line crimped to the rubber hose section of the line.

 

 

I honestly thought it was strange that the "new" version of that line when I went to pick up a replacement just in case the end of the original one had gotten buggered up and that's what was causing the leak instead of the o-ring. And to my surprise it was metal on both ends (crimped) and section of flexible 3/8" hose in the middle. With a system that creates easily above 1000 psi when in operation... I was like WTH? where's the straight steel line to handle that kind of force?

 

Thanks for the diagram there... that's just odd... I dont know if it has anything to do with the fact that my XJ has an orig. build sheet to be a service model. It has the higher output alt., factory LSD in the rear, among other parts that were common for the service level grade model. So I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it had an upgraded line like this too. I've found other bits that are stronger grade in working on this thing over the past 3 years I've had her.
And I know the orig. "owner" it was a service vehicle... very low miles... I'm the 2nd and final owner in her 21 year stint on the road.

 

I’ve never seen a solid power steering line like your describing. Can you post a picture of it whenever you get a chance? Thanks

 

I'm also confused here. It can't be all steel, it has to have a flexible point otherwise it wouldn't be able to absorb movement from the engine.

As for your questions:
I don't believe the system holds any pressure once it's stopped running. The FSM has no mention in the Steering section about caution of high pressure when removing the lines.

Also found in the FSM:
I just had to pull my engine and replace my high pressure line, I just put in Central Hydraulic Fluid which listed Power Steering applications, and I have a feeling it even said Jeep on the label somewhere. I think it was a NAPA bottle as our parts supplier now stocks a lot of NAPA branded parts.

 

I highly recommend Sunsong PS high pressure line. I just installed one and it is built really well. Not sure as to why your Jeep would have an all metal line for the high pressure, but that is odd. A shop could have custom made something for it. Anyway, I use Power Steering fluid. A shop tried to put in ATF, but I told them to use Power Steering fluid like the owner's manual says. Not sure if it's different for you year, though. And yes, reman pump are really bad, don't last long.

 

In 2012 when I bought my 2000 WJ, I decided to change all the fluids and filters, so I went to my dealer to get the proper PS fluid. The parts manager, who later turned out to be a good friend, told me that fluid had been superseded by another number, BUT he still had 2 quarts of the old fluid on the shelf. He said he'd give me a deal on it if I got it out of his inventory! It was too long ago to remember the numbers, but I haven't had any trouble with the system until just this week when the pump is showing signs of low pressure at idle stopped and you try to go to the opposite lock for a K-turn. 260K miles.In all that mileage, the only things that have been replaced are the pressure hose before I bought it and the steering box 4 years ago. I have no idea what my mechanic used to top it off after the box change.

My PS pressure hose is all steel except for a loop of rubber that forms something like a sink trap below and behind the steering box, then comes back up to the box.

 

Yes... I went down the reman. hole of hell a while back... will never return.. Got a redhead box like I should've forked out for in the first place... so far it's doing pretty good.
With the fluid... I just wanted to make sure that I was using what is recommended for a 99. Replacing a 20 dollar high pressure line is nothing... I don't want to ruin the power steering pump prematurely because of using the wrong fluid.

as for the line... I'm not sure... the thought of needing some flex from the engine vibration, etc, would be required.... I have not a single clue why the high pressure side on mine is a solid metal one... I'll have to take a pic when I get the chance.
My xj only had one previous owner, but it was a service vehicle and pretty well maintained by their internal shop. But IF the high pres. side one on mine IS in fact a custom fab'd unit... that's some of the best damn fabrication I've ever seen. Because it looks factory. Every bend is correct, everything. And just fyi... I've actually fab'd SS fuel lines before on a vehicle or two in the past.

So seems like consensus here is using good PS fluid instead of ATF.... that's cool.. i can get most of that out of the reservoir easily enough.... but what about what's left in the box?

 

I pulled the fluid return line from the reservoir, blanked off the return feed with some 10mm hose with a bolt stuffed in the end, (with belt off) grabbed a drill and a hex bit that fit the pulley, span the pump up with the drill and had the return feed go into a catch can. I think I flushed through about 1L of fluid before it came out nice and clean. Then it was just a matter of connecting the return hose back to the reservoir. Also keep it topped up constantly while pumping or have someone help you do it. The pump drains through fluid very quickly. I'm sure the steering box still would have had a small amount of old fluid trapped in it somewhere but in my case, it wasn't an issue. You could always flush it, run it then flush it again to get rid of the last traces the first flush may have left.

 

just curious... anyone happen to know what it is about ATF that is bad for the pumps/system in our XJs?
honestly I think it's had ATF in there for the last 3 years. since the pwr steering pump was replaced.

 

ATF in mine for the last 2 years.

 

I think it has something to do with seal compatibility. I had a Chevy Monte Carlo for a while that was given to me and the steering box started leaking a little. I put Dextron in it and it started pissing profusely! I guess that didn't work. That car cracked an exhaust manifold pulling up a big hill and before I realized it, caught on fire! The whole car burnt to a crisp right up to the back seat! It had a full tank of gas that fed the flames from the fuel line, but didn't explode, except for the front tires. Whatever. It was free. I got $100 from the scrap yard for it anyway. When I turned in the plates, the front one was just a puddle of aluminum. The clerk picked it up with a Kleenex and dropped it in the trash.

Don't ever call the thing in front of you a firewall. When the fire was out, the hole for the heater was big enough to crawl thru!