Power steering leaking: seal or something else?

[RichSport94]

Well I just noticed that my power steering fluid is leaking like a madman. I haven't had time to get a good look where it is leaking from (reason=12 inches of snow and 0 degrees temp.) It looks like it is coming from where the two hoses go into the steering box( I think that what it is). Due I need new lines or just seals. Should I clean it up and check or just fix it? Help! this is one of the last fixes I do before anything else goes wrong, I want at least a couple of months without worries.

 

[RFR2212]

Rich-Once I'm home from school, I might be able to help ya more cause my truck was in for some steering problems...But I think with that you can get away with new hoses and that is the problem...if your haven't figured it out, I'm home this weekend and might know more due to my own expriences....
Pete

 

[sholzee]

I,m from the New York rustbelt and it is common for the lines to rust out right behind the Drivers front tire. I bought a hose from Autozone and replaced one of mine that han a pinhole leak in the metal tube part of the line. Mine is a 92 4dr.

 

[kvo]

Clean the area and check for the leaks. It just may be that the nut is loose. If not, you'd have the replace the hose(s). The high pressure line is more expensive than the low pressure line and you have to replace the entire hose not just the seals.

 

[jemail]

I had this problem before I lifted my '91.
First, the two hoses on the steering box were tightened. This helped stop the leak for only a week, so I went ahead and bought some new lines from Napa Auto Parts.
It seems that the old lines are prone to cracking and pin-hole leaks where they bolt up to the steering box.
So the new line has a swivel fitting to compensate for the cracking problem. No power steering leaks, but now I have to locate a engine oil leak (seems to be on the passenger's side of the engine).
Hope this helps.

 

[Pluto]

Could be something other than hoses

My '92XLT started leaking power steering fluid. It looked like it was comming from the top of the steering box; but I cleaned it all up and got to looking and it was actually the seal on the lower pitman shaft. The parts to fix it were cheap but we had to take the wholse steering box out and disassemble it and put it back together.

I just happen to have a Ford mechanic that lives two houses down who helped me do it for $30.

 

[RangerX]

Rich, if you problem ends up being what Pluto is describing, see my thread in the General Explorations forum, titled "leaking steering gearbox".