[rkeysor]

I have been losing power steering fluid without any obvious leaks. Remembering how I found the pump leak the previous time, I removed the under tray, etc., and the left front wheel, started the car, and turned the steering wheel over hard. The fluid appears to be coming from the pressure line on the wheel side of the pump, running down from under the sponge covering just above the bango fitting at the pump. Using PET, I have identified the line as No. 43, 944 347 447 02. This line is identified as LL; there is a second line with a slightly different number designated RL. I'm guessing the LL stands for left hand steering(?). This hose requires two sealing lrings of different dimensions at each end. From PET I gather it runs from the pump (obvious) to the steering rack unit. Is the second connection reasonably easy to access? And finally, a dealer has this pipe for sale on eBay for $149.95 plus $10 shipping. Reasonable price? Thanks.

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[banditsc]

Don't think I have seen that hose leak yet. Try just replacing the crush washers on the pump end and see if it stops. Also the drips from above can make it look like you have leaks from there.

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[rkeysor]

<!--quoteo(post=72608:date=May 26 2009, 04:54 PM:name=banditsc)-->QUOTE (banditsc @ May 26 2009, 04:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Don't think I have seen that hose leak yet. Try just replacing the crush washers on the pump end and see if it stops. Also the drips from above can make it look like you have leaks from there.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll check it again this weekend. I had replaced the wheel before I started the car and turned the wheel over hard, so I didn't have the best view. However, it looked like the fluid was coming from between the metal hose and its foam outer covering, not from the banjo connection at the pump.

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[rkeysor]

I pulled off the right front wheel to check the source of my leak. With the service panel removed on the inner wheel well, a banjo fitting and line attached to the pump are readily seen. I turned the wheel over to the right (engine running) and didn't notice any leakage. Turned the wheel left and fluid immediately emerged from the inside the protective covering on the metal hose just before it becomes the banjo. This was in line with my earlier experience. I traced that line and find it attaches to the rear of the power unit where the linkage from the steering column descends. I found it impossible to either see or touch the attachment point on the back of what I will call the steering box. Yes, I used a mirror and had plenty of light. Perhaps it is possible to partially dismount the steering rack to access the attachment point for that pipe or hose. Is it worth doing, or do I take it to the shop?

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[banditsc]

If you lay under the drivers side and look up from the back side of the steering rack you can see the connections to the rack. They also have crush washers on them. I don't think it would travel to the other side of the hose though, usually it would just drip down from there. Perhaps pull back the foam covering on the hose and see if it split or something. That's the high pressure side, so you would expect it to be gushing out pretty good if the host were cracked or something. If the hose is at fault, I'm sure you could get a local hydraulic shop to replace the rubber on it for cheaper then a new one. That's the route I have gone for a lot of hydraulic and A/C lines instead of paying the Porsche prices.

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[rkeysor]

<!--quoteo(post=72779:date=May 29 2009, 05:48 AM:name=banditsc)-->QUOTE (banditsc @ May 29 2009, 05:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->If you lay under the drivers side and look up from the back side of the steering rack you can see the connections to the rack. They also have crush washers on them. I don't think it would travel to the other side of the hose though, usually it would just drip down from there. Perhaps pull back the foam covering on the hose and see if it split or something. That's the high pressure side, so you would expect it to be gushing out pretty good if the host were cracked or something. If the hose is at fault, I'm sure you could get a local hydraulic shop to replace the rubber on it for cheaper then a new one. That's the route I have gone for a lot of hydraulic and A/C lines instead of paying the Porsche prices.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

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[rkeysor]

I was able to find the hard-line connection by looking at it from the rear, as suggested. I found I could get a 6 mm allen wrench in the adjoining connection, but was unable to get it into the high pressure connection that I need to disconnect. I was using a simple L-shaped 6 mm reaching in over the top, and couldn't manuever it in the close quarters. I suspect mechanics access this from the bottom using a socket with a 6 mm allen insert. Does that sound right? Also, I had pressurized the system and turned the steering wheel hard right, again getting a flow of fluid from between the hard line and its rubber covering at the pump. When I checked this time, some of the fluid had flowed out of the other end of the rubber covering. I'm confident that the hard line has split somewhere under that rubber covering.

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