Power Steering Fluid BIG leak - 85 V8 County

[Carslil Jim]

The restoration of this magnificent machine continues. The front end was/is awash with oil from the PS unit. I suspect the pipe going in or the pipe coming out of the PS is loose, but I would be interested in any advice on how to trace the problem and rectify it. The resevoir is now empty, and the oil has stopped flowing!

What I plan to do is 1) remove the alternator so I can see what is going on, 2) add a little oil (transmission fluid) to theresevoir and see if I can spot the leak...first without the motor, and second with the motor running if no leak when not running. This means starting and rumming without the alternator. (No Problem..i have a charger).

All advice gratefully received!

[lardy]

just to confirm it is not spraying but leaking correct ?

[Carslil Jim]

Good question. I dont know because I have not looked at the PS pump with the engine running, but the distribution of fluid would seem to indicate lots is leaking and then spreading particularly on to the chassis cross member and then down onto anything below that point. I will update this thread if I can get the answer later (much later) today.

[Carslil Jim]

I whipped the alternator out, and refilled the PS fluid resevoir. Then I wiggled the steering wheel a couple of times (wheels are off the LR), and low and behold, there was a trickle of fresh oil from the top of the hose connected to the banjo coupling onto the top of the PS pump.

Where I would like advice is whether I can just lever off the factory stainless clips you can see in the photo, put in a new piece of hose from Repco and tighten up with screw up type clamps. The photo is from below looking upwards.

[Freestyler]

Hi I just rebuit the PS pump on my 85 county with the same pump and mine is only heald on with a standard type screw up hose clamp. This is only the suction from the tank. Has yours got the steel tank or Plastic? the later model plastic one doesn't leak like the tin one like was on these countys

[Carslil Jim]

Thanks for that. Mine has the tin can for the resevoir. Did you replace the original hose? Did you have any problems getting the original clamps off?

[lardy]

personally i would suggest its more likely the seals but you would need someone to turn the steering lock to lock with a filled reservoir to determine the source

[Freestyler]

Thanks for that. Mine has the tin can for the resevoir. Did you replace the original hose? Did you have any problems getting the original clamps off?

I replace all the hoses with fleable ones, I got rid of the steel ones that run across the chassis under the radiator, The resevoir is up on the RHS the break booster out of the road. I have also fitted a 4bolt steering box. I had all the hoses made locally in Scone. The hoses and fitting are proper power steering hoses and not hydraulic hoses so they still comply with the ADR's of the vehicle.
Tim

[LRCounty]

I fixed this same problem last summer on my County.

I used a Dremel to cut the old clamps all the way through and then used a screw driver to expand them and pry them off. I also had to use a blade to cut the old hose to get it off the flanges at both ends as it was hardened with age.

I then bought some replacement hose from Pirtek, and also some of their nice screw up hose clamps. No more leaks :-)

Cheers
Andre

[Carslil Jim]

Being a novice, I cut/levered off the tank connection, and then undid the clamps holding the metal tube, undid the banjo fitting on the pump and then manouvered the whole thing out. If there is a next time I will do what you did and just cut the old hoses away and put in the new ones which are far more flexible.

And I love those Philips head clamps though I understand you can get square drive ones which are even better. No more sliding sideways with the old flat blade screwdriver.