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Power-Steering Line Replacement

Q

quickster

New member
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800 Series 3. I changed the power-steering pump thinking that was the source of the leak, but was wrong. I can't seem to locate the source of the leak. Thinking about just replacing the lines. Has anyone here done this? If so, do the lines bought from auto parts store fit without any problems?
 


I've replaced the lines at the same time as the rack. Not exactly fun as it is tight back there.

I would look to see if the boots on the rack are leaking. Sometimes the racks can leak internally and blow the fluid out the end seals into the boots, and they will leak from there. That has been my experience.
 
i agree, clean it all up and find the leak first, why throw money at things that dont need to be changed.

put your car in the air and de grease the whole engine, trans, and under side,and what ever looks dirty. (after all who doesn't want a clean engine?) clean the rack up best you can, after thats done and dry, when you park the car for the night put some cardboard under your car, the drips will show up real nice, that should give a good starting place to search and destroy the leak.

its unlikely to be a line, the only one it could be is the one off the pump thats a rubber line, to a hard line, and its a low pressure line (return)

also if it was a line it would be leaking like mad, especially when turning the wheels. power steering is like a hydraulic system, and is under pressure.
 
Thanks. It's my daughter's car, so I don't get to check it out but on week-ends. I'll take your advice, clean it all up the best I can, and start from there. I'ts somewhere on the fire-wall side, I know that much. Is the rack really hard to replace? I do most of the work on my own cars, but never replaced a steering rack before. Thanks again.
 
quickster said:
Thanks. It's my daughter's car, so I don't get to check it out but on week-ends. I'll take your advice, clean it all up the best I can, and start from there. I'ts somewhere on the fire-wall side, I know that much. Is the rack really hard to replace? I do most of the work on my own cars, but never replaced a steering rack before. Thanks again.
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Not hard. Just takes some time. Make sure you give yourself 3-4 hour or so to get it done because it can be tight in there. Dropping the rear of the subframe a couple inches helps.
 


Thanks Zef_66. I was looking on O'Reilly's site for racks. How do I find out if it's variable or non-variable assist. Not sure which rack I would need if I do end up needing one. Maybe by the Vin# ?
 
i know napa uses your vin # to make sure you get the right part, or you could call the dealership with you vin# as well. or even stop by and act like you want to buy it from them, then when they tell you how much leave. lol
 
Old thread but don't want to start a new one. Do all the n/a engines have the same style return line or some years are different?
 


you mean the line nut on the line, to the rack?

if so put the nut at the end of the line, on the flair, put it in the hole, and turn it back wards, when you feel it click, it just dropped on the first thread, now slowly turn it clock wise, give the line a little wiggle as you turn it, it should catch.
 


It already got dark so might try again tomorrow. The room sucks and trying to bend it perfectly by your self sucks worse. That's why I was asking if theirs a difference couldn't find any info on them
 
I recently bought and installed a new high pressure line on an '04. It had sharper turns on both ends and didn't align at all. Starting at where it attaches to the steering rack, I held it up to where it was suppose to connect, got a visual on what direction and how much it needed to be bent and used a box-end wrench over the nut and onto the line, and bent it. Took a couple of tries, but got it done without too much trouble. Connected it to the rack, went to the pump-side and did the same thing. Just takes patience.
 
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