Power steering leaks

[Colin McA]

Hi All,

I have read through the previous posts and haven't found a conclusive answer so here goes.

My power steering system seems to be in great working order except for the leak.

I have noticed leaks around the pump and the steering box. plenty fluid around the anti-roll bar bushes.

I am will be giving it a good look over in the next few weeks but want to get some pointers first.

The obvious thing to do is to get the recon items for good old JR. I am interested to know whether any one has successfully overhauled there own units. I am not keen on S/H units except for overhaul/exchange. Saying that at £275 and £90 plus vat and delivery I would give it a try.

any comments?

Colin

[harvey]

Firstly I'd powerwash around the pump and box, then check where the leaks are coming from, it can often be loose unions or split or damaged pipes. I'd certainly re-seal a pump, but a box I'm not so sure about (even though I've got a genuine seal kit somewhere.) JRW make much of the fact that they modify the boxes to overcome the standard units shortcomings.

[Phil Nottingham]

Unions do often leak especially the high pressure ones as pressures up to 900lbs persq in can develop so the tiniest leak will let out a lot of very thin and often hot fluid which quickly spreads.

As Harvey says clean it up and then it should be obvious where its coming from

[theroveringmember]

On our car, the low pressure supply hose from the reservior to the pump had been porous since I bought her. Made things quite slippery in that area & below. Went to our local Hydraulic hose suppliers a few weeks back & got a new length of suitable diameter for £3. No sign of any oil at all now & even the box seems oil-tight too, fingers crossed. I replaced the reservior with a new one too though I don't think the old one was leaking. I just picked it up from Walkers in Chelmsford who had it in stock for a reasonable price. Not sure if he has any more but you get the filter with it too so it's worth a change as the filters alone are £20 or so from Roverpart who puts them on ebay.
This post has made me a Rover lunatic...