Removing Power Steering hoses from Reservoir

[BMWManiac]

I know there are two main lines off of the reservoir.

Both have a 22mm banjo bolt. The one off the power steering pump is easy.

How do you remove the other 22mm banjo bolt without dropping the subrame? I did it before on a '91 318i, but I cannot see how to do it on a '91 325i?

[SpecM]

yes you can take it off

[BMWManiac]

Thanks for the insight....how? From the front, oil pan side? I didn't see a way from the transmission side

[Kershaw]

iirc, the 2 banjo bolts are different sizes. if one is 22mm, the other is smaller. maybe 17mm.

[BMWManiac]

The only wrench I could get to fit was 22mm. I'll double check.

Having said that, the problem is how to access the bolt for leverage....

[BMWManiac]

So, I completed this today. Really not to bad in hindsight. Replaced my sway bar end links while I was in there.

So, cliffnotes:

1) Undo the clamp on the throttle body elbow that goes to the intake manifold and air filter cover and then you can move it up, out of the way. Remove the 10mm bolt in the engine bay that closes the clamp around the power steering reservoir.

2) Underneath the car, 22mm wrench and undo the banjo bolt connected to the power steering pump. ENSURE YOU HAVE A DRAIN BUCKET UNDERNEATH YOU. Either retain or replace both banjo bolt washers. I attempted to replace them, but the dealer ordered the wrong one. So I reused the old ones and checked for leaks....none.

3) The other line from the reservoir connects to the power steering rack. This is also a 22mm banjo bolt. As the purpose of this thread shows, I could seem to get leverage and my 22mm wrench was to long....it would hit the transmission. So, what I did was undo the other power steering line that was right next to it (either 17mm or 19mm banjo bolt) first, which then provided me plenty of room to undo the required 22mm banjo bolt. The best was was under the car, put the wrench on the bolt and aim it up at about the 10/11 o'clock postion and pull down....plenty of room and plenty of leverage. Again, HAVE A DRAIN BUCKET UNDERNEATH AFTER YOU UNDO THE BANJO BOLT!

4) Move the clamps from your old lines to your new lines and new reservoir. Feed the lines from the top through the reservoir bracket. Go back underneath the car and connect the three power steering lines back. Remember, do both 22mm banjo bolts first, then the smaller 17/19mm one. Also, don't forget that there should be a washer on both sides of the power steering line....it goes, washer - power steering - washer - banjo bolt through all three holes.

5) Lastly, clamp down the reservoir in the bracket. Hopefully, you didn't do this first. Fill the reservoir with ATF fluid....and you're done.

I did not find any torque specs....you'll remember how hard it was to loosen, so if you are tightening it and it's not tight, you will know when it starts to leak.