Power steering leak

SPARKY6665

MEMBER
1977 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
5.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
152,000 MILES

Power steering fluid all over engine bay. After watching your video I see it might be possible that my leak stems from possibly two sources; One source is I never checked to see if o-rings are installed which leads me to my first question of two. In my car are there suppose to be o-rings in both ends of pressure line? How about the other line where it connects to power steering gear box? And source two. I may have pulled on pressure line getting it to twist and turn into place. Is it possible to pull on end of line so much that you cause it to leak? Not at fitting but where metal line and hose itself, there is some kind of connector fitting. Someone told me it was a barbed fitting and you can cut that, peel it off, and replace it with hose clamp even on pressure side. The car is used in entry level racing at local stock car track. Your help on rings and repair would be greatly appreciated. P.S. Enjoy your videos!

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018 AT 7:33 AM

5 Replies

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

I do not see an o-ring on either end. why do you not just get a new hose here for $20.00?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=984071&cc=1430327&jsn=419

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Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018 AT 7:47 AM

SPARKY6665

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I am under the impression that the hose in question possibly leaks where the rubber meets steel line and that the way it was constructed. I was told is a barbed clamp and can be cut off and then replaced with a hose clamp, is this possible? Thanks guys. I have been unemployed since November and do not go back to work until after knee replacement surgery May 22nd then have rehab time. I just do not have money to buy right now. I have been racing thirty three years and squeak buy each month selling things I have bought at auctions over the years. These are things I intended to sell so it gets me by. House is paid for and I am a veteran so medical is paid for just need to make utilities, car insurance, food and gas money. Roughly $125.00 week. Then there is racing, a pretty much a break even deal there $50.00 to get in, $40.00 payout. So not bad but repairs get a little sketchy. Well thanks for the information and let me know what you know about these type hoses if it can be repaired. One more thing, if I put in fluid and tighten cam and then raced without opening cap to allow air to bleed from system, would it blow fluid out the cap when racing?

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Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018 AT 7:48 PM

PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO

MECHANIC
1,853 POSTS

If you did not bleed the air out, then air bubbles may have accumulated in the fluid but in my opinion it would have quite a bit of air bubbles expanding the fluid enough to blow the cap off. I think instead you may have a blocked or clogged high pressure line/hose and that is why it blows fluid out the cap and also the reason for the leak.
As far as the crimp or whatever you want to call it, they are usually made with a machine. I suppose a hose clamp may hold it but I would not be willing to wager any money on that, especially when a new line cost $20.00 but if you want to chance it you still have the possibility of the inside of that hose being deteriorated and clogging up the line not to mention if any of that rubber has broken off it could have traveled to just about anywhere in that system and be causing a blockage. I would at least remove both hoses and make sure you blow compressed air through both of them and see if you blow anything out of either one and also make sure they are clear.

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Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 AT 6:25 AM

SPARKY6665