Is there a mechanic in the house? Power steering issue.

[brh986]

Greetings!

No one that likes to be taken to the cleaners when doing auto repairs, so I would like to see if any of you know if; an insulator, in the high pressure line of a power steering line can be replaced by itself, OR will I need to buy the entire home assembly. Here are a few pictures showing exactly what I am talking about, just in case my wording it not totally accurate.

Entire hose assembly with area of interest circled.


Area of interest circled again. (Closer view)


Here is a picture of my actual split insulator. You can see the split, but it is also pushing its way out of the housing a bit. This is where I think air is getting into the line which is causing power steering issues when turning.


I just noticed this on an exploded parts view: Is the insulator located on an actual joint? (I thought so, but there are more on down the line.) Is the insulator simply holding the lines in place and there is NO joint for a leak to even exist???? Maybe the leak is coming from above in the resevour and is running down the line and fluid is sitting on the insulator, making me think its where the leak is. Dunno, but now I am more worried that its somewhere else. New question, Joint? Or no joint, located at location of insulator.


This is on a 2004 Nissan Xterra if it matters. I take it to the mechanic on Friday, but wanted to get an idea what to expect first. :peeping:

Main questions:
"If" the entire assembly is required for repair, is it very labor intensive? +$?
I already know that the assembly runs around $180.00 :eek:

CAN the $4.00 insulator be repaired all by itself? :woo:

Thanks for any assistance.

Derek

[ben9732]

That is a mounting isolation block. There is no connection of the tubes under it, nor is used as a fluid sealing device. They keep the hose in place with the bracket and prevent noise and vibration from getting into the vehicle with the use of the rubber. It has that split as that is how the rubber isolator is put around the tubing before the bracket is assembled over it.

The only way there would be an issue under the rubber was if the tube had a hole rubbed through it. In picture 2 and three, that rubber tube is the return line, which is not clamped tightly, but is the best candidate of an issue like your describing, which if so could be cured by removing the spring clamp and putting on a worm clamp. I doubt either is your issue.

The high pressure line is the top one in picture 1, and if that had a hole you would have a lot of fluid loss. Even the return line is under some pressure as the fluid returns to the reservoir before being drawn to the pump. The region between the reservoir and pump would be the area that would be prone to a suction air leak.

In your gray picture the pump is towards the left bottom and your reservoir is obscured, but there is a line between the pump and reservoir (need more of the left side of the gray picture) where you should be concerned. Again, it may just be clamps.

My granddaughter needs a car. I'll take this problem child off your hands for $1000 if you like.

[brh986]

Thank you very much for the detailed reply. I just got back for a long test drive after tightening up several clamps on the lines and to my surprise, no more issues with the power steering. I had no idea it was going to be that simple. I was just out of ideas and decided to simply sinch them all up.

I guess some air was getting into the line via one of the clamps.

Thanks again for the reply. I think I'll be keeping it. Ha!