Power Steering leak. Help!

[Erick]

Ok so I got the hose today from Alex. Thanks a lot man! That is exatcly what I needed.

So my optimist ass goes under the car and quickly identifies both lugs to remove.... the one at the p/s pump way in the front of the car.... and the one in the rack.... all good so far.

Now HOW IN THE HELL DO I REMOVE THE DAMN LUGS?!?!!?! Sorry for the caps, but after two hours of trying as hard as I could.... and with my father's aid who is like 2x stronger than I am and still either one of them wouldn't budge... I'm left at a blank.

I tried to get some more leverage with the hollow tube thingy that comes in the trunk's toolkit. Either one of us were able to make the lugs flinch.

Those two are a bitch and after two hours under the car today I had to give up because I had other urgent things to go after.

Now I'm going to try to find a better tube to get even some more leverage out of the wrench handle.... but it wont be any more than an inch because remember we are working in the engine bay here and you dont have THAT much space available :?

......wow I feel so weak :(

Any ideas on how to get these lugs out?

[UNHCLL]

Let her be on top.



Seriously, jack the car up, put it on a STURDY set of jackstands, ON LEVEL ground...
Work on them from the bottom.


All the general cautions of working under the car apply, I take no responsibility for anything that happens.

[Erick]

I'm way ahead of you and still got nowhere. My car is up on 4 jackstands and I've been under the car for 2 hours.... from the top it would be impossible to even reach the lugs.

[UNHCLL]

I often manage to get the wrench straigh up into the engine bay.
That allows a large amount of leverage.... but I'm on my feet while the car is on a lift.

I dunno about on your back

[Erick]

I'm no expert but I know for a fact that you cant get one of them from standing up.... since the lug is parallel to the floor..... meaning the lever of the wrench will be parallel to the floor ( that is the one on the pump ).

The other one I would also want to say it's impossible.... but if not... it's damn near impossible.... being in the steering rack not even 2 inches away from the engine.

It has to be from under I guess..... but I'll take a good look tomorrow.... however I highly doubt I'll be getting any of them out from the top.

[alex]

Erick,

I don't suppose those bolts were rusted since you've had a leak. If so I guess you already put on some WD-40 or an equivalent. And they shouldn't be very tight either as the spec torque for those banjo bolts is only about 30 ft-lb. What kind of tools are you using?

I'd get 1/2 drive breaker bar if it's that tight.

Hope this helps.

[Erick]

I've heard about this breaker bar but I cant picture one on the top of my head.....

Good idea on the WD-40... I'll see how it works out.

Edit: The tool I'm using is a 3/8 wrench with the 19mm socket.

[alex]

I've heard about this breaker bar but I cant picture one on the top of my head.....

Good idea on the WD-40... I'll see how it works out.

Edit: The tool I'm using is a 3/8 wrench with the 19mm socket.

Erick,

Get 1/2 drive breaker bar with 1/2 drive socket. I'm using craftsman breaker bar. It was around $15 or so. Or you can fly me over and I'll fix it for you :-)

[Erick]

..... :P I'll fly you over.... however you're staying for a good while..... until we can get this fixed and then you'll be my driving instructor in some auto-xs :D how's that sound? ;)

Ok so I have to SEE what a breaker bar is because I honestly cant picture it.

And I most likely will just bust out with some hundred bucks or so and get a small but decent tool kit. Everytime I'm going to do something different in the car I need to go to sears to buy a socket or a wrench :roll:

[e9nine]

...just hit google or ask the guys in the store when you go. Some tools you'll never have till you do certain jobs...I thought I had all the sockets and wrenches till I needed a 22mm when doing the c.arm :twisted:

[alex]

..... :P I'll fly you over.... however you're staying for a good while..... until we can get this fixed and then you'll be my driving instructor in some auto-xs :D how's that sound? ;)

Ok so I have to SEE what a breaker bar is because I honestly cant picture it.

And I most likely will just bust out with some hundred bucks or so and get a small but decent tool kit. Everytime I'm going to do something different in the car I need to go to sears to buy a socket or a wrench :roll:

That sounds excellent! $20/hour 24/7 all expenses paid and I'll spend few month over there. I'll miss the snow though

http://content.sears.com/data/product_images/009/44202/00944202000-dlv.jpg

Here you go:

[Erick]

Thanks.... and if I still cant fix it... can you mail yourself in a Fedex Overnight box as well? ;)

[alex]

Thanks.... and if I still cant fix it... can you mail yourself in a Fedex Overnight box as well? ;)

I don't think they have boxes large enough to fit these in it as I'd most likely will need both.
I'd rather take the plane though... Box is nice but not that nice.

[Erick]

Too expensive for me then.... maybe some other time :P

[alex]

Too expensive for me then.... maybe some other time :P

Ok, just let me know. I'd like some time to pack...:-)