Anatomy of a leaking high-pressure power steering hose:
12-14-2006, 11:54 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Anatomy of a leaking high-pressure power steering hose:
I was leaking PS fluid slowly for the longest time. I had replaced the pump about a year ago, so I didn't really think that was it. But it was hard to tell exactly where the leak was, as the pump had accumulated drops of fluid on the bottom. There was some seepage at the end of the high-pressure line, so I had a pretty good hunch that was the culprit.
The view from underneath, the metal end of the PS hose is at the top center, with a drop of fluid accumulated:
<img src="http://images17.fotki.com/v12/photos/4/48510/1956662/P6120020-vi.jpg">
#10 in this diagram:
<img src="http://images17.fotki.com/v13/photos/4/48510/1956662/pspumpparts-vi.jpg">
It's a ~$150 hose, so I hoped that I was right!
Old and new hose:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/48510/1956662/PA010015-vi.jpg">
Sure enough, that seemed to take care of the problem. It was only yesterday that I decided to cut up the old hose to see how it was made and if I could located a particular failure point.
The outer protective sheath removed, note the puddle of fluid inside the sheath:
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v371/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2591-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v370/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2592-vi.jpg">
Chopped up:
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v371/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2595-vi.jpg">
Close-up:
<img src="http://images20.fotki.com/v364/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2598-vi.jpg">
I couldn't find any point that looked like an obvious point of leakage -- the end connections looked sound. I suspect it could have been one or both of those middle couplers/connectors. The amount of fluid that had accumulated on the outside of the hose, but beneath the sheath surprised me -- it was leaking pretty badly.
So, for those of you leaking power steering fluid, this could definitely be a culprit. Good luck.
Andy
The view from underneath, the metal end of the PS hose is at the top center, with a drop of fluid accumulated:
<img src="http://images17.fotki.com/v12/photos/4/48510/1956662/P6120020-vi.jpg">
#10 in this diagram:
<img src="http://images17.fotki.com/v13/photos/4/48510/1956662/pspumpparts-vi.jpg">
It's a ~$150 hose, so I hoped that I was right!
Old and new hose:
<img src="http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/48510/1956662/PA010015-vi.jpg">
Sure enough, that seemed to take care of the problem. It was only yesterday that I decided to cut up the old hose to see how it was made and if I could located a particular failure point.
The outer protective sheath removed, note the puddle of fluid inside the sheath:
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v371/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2591-vi.jpg">
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v370/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2592-vi.jpg">
Chopped up:
<img src="http://images14.fotki.com/v371/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2595-vi.jpg">
Close-up:
<img src="http://images20.fotki.com/v364/photos/4/48510/1956662/IMG_2598-vi.jpg">
I couldn't find any point that looked like an obvious point of leakage -- the end connections looked sound. I suspect it could have been one or both of those middle couplers/connectors. The amount of fluid that had accumulated on the outside of the hose, but beneath the sheath surprised me -- it was leaking pretty badly.
So, for those of you leaking power steering fluid, this could definitely be a culprit. Good luck.
Andy
12-14-2006, 12:14 PM
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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I found my leak when I installed the PS cooler.
where the oem cooler hardline met the rubber hoses always had a drip there. Pentosin was always splattered on the components down there. New fresh splices and new clamps = no leaks
