325ix power steering pipe leak

[nando]

This is an ix guys. It's not the same as a RWD at all.

The ix without PS sucks. It's not even super low speeds - even at 25mph, it's way too stiff.

[Cephas]

We used a delete plate on our race car. I don't know that I'd just cap the lines without giving it some relief from the fluid exchange from side to side.

This comes with no scientific evidence other than the fact that people way smarter than me built and use the delete plate.

[itsonlygeorge]

Parking is not hard without PS. You just need to have the car moving a bit to turn the wheels. That and getting the initial angle when parallel parking is very important.


Sent from th

[Seawolf]

No need to loop the fluid, just disconnect everything including the x-pipe, drain the rack (cycle left to right a few times) and fit blanking plugs in all the ports.

- If you leave the fluid in the rack you'll be fighting it on every turn, removing it will make parking a lot easier. You can then pull the pump, reservoir and plumbing.

You can donate your x-pipe to the OP, everyone wins

[tk32]

Minor thread redirection -

I too have a leaking and old (200,000+mile) ps system in my 88 iX, although not from the rack. Anyone have experience with a proper ps delete on an iX, which would entail removing all unnecessary parts and use a fancy plate to loop the fluid? I understand the potential challenges of parking...

So: replace all of the things, (reservoir, lines and rebuild/replace pump) or remove all of the things. Thanks for the input :pimp:

tk

[Seawolf]

Can't help with a replacement pipe, but if you want to send me the old one when you have it off I could make you a replacement - I have one of those nice (aka expensive) MasterCool hydraulic flaring tools that I'm trying to justify the cost of.

Don't want any money other than shipping and tube cost (unless you have a length you can send).

[barbierij]

thank you for that picture! I was just about to take pictures of my spare. I don't want to drive this to my shop so hopefully I can get to it on ramps. Or maybe I can remove the PS belt for the drive to the shop. Its supposed to snow here tomorrow so sometime this week. I'll update when I work on this.

[Nisse Järnet]

Oops big picture..
Edit: Made it smaller..

[Nisse Järnet]

Brake hard line? :)

[nando]

No, the pipe that is leaking is part of the rack.

[The Dark Side of Will]

The way that's leaking, it's a pressure hose. Sealer won't cut it.

Just take the belt off. It'll suck for a weekend, but then you can order a new pipe.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=1293-USA-10-1987-E30-BMW-325ix&diagId=32_0267

Number 2 in this diagram, maybe?

[Nisse Järnet]

Cant you just replace it with a brake hard line?

[Kershaw]

Maybe... MAYBE... clean it really really really well. Coat everything in a thin coat of that blue gasket sealer. Get a 2" piece of fuel or heater hose or whatever. Give it one cut longitudinally so you can slip it over the metal pipe. Give the inside a thin coat of the hose a coat of blue gasket sealer again. Use 3 hose clamps. 2 on the ends and one right over the pinhole leak.

Let it sit for a few hours before turning the wheel or whatever. Maybe it'll hold. Maybe you'll waste an hour.

[nando]

I'm not sure that will work. that pipe doesn't connect to the PS hoses, it's like a bypass line or something for the rack. It will probably still leak although not as badly if you disconnect the hoses.

[itsonlygeorge]

Not sure on that detail. My car came with an e36 rack swapped in with a delete plate.


Sent from th