Power Steering Line/Hose: Service and Repair
Pipe AssemblyREMOVAL
1. Disconnect the ground cable from the battery.
2. Lift-up the vehicle, and then remove the front crossmember support plate and jack-up plate.
3. Remove the one pipe joint at the center of the gearbox, and connect the vinyl hose to the pipe and the joint. Discharge the fluid by turning the steering wheel fully clockwise and counterclockwise. Discharge the fluid similarly from other pipes.
4. Remove the clamp E from return hose and pressure hose.
5. Disconnect the pipe D from return hose and pipe C from pressure hose.
6. Remove the air intake duct.
7. Disconnect the suction hose and pressure hose from oil pump.
8. Disconnect the suction hose and return hose from the reservoir tank.
9. Remove the oil cooler pipe.
10. Remove the hose bracket and take out the hose assembly from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
1. Install in the reverse order of removal.
Tightening torque:
2. Fill with the specified fluid.
CAUTION: Never start the engine before feeding the fluid otherwise the vane pump might be seized.
3. Finally, check the clearance between pipes or hoses as shown in the figure indicated in General Diagnostic Table.
INSPECTION
Check all disassembled parts for wear, damage or other problems. Repair or replace the defective parts as necessary.
CAUTION: Although the surface layer materials of rubber hoses have excellent weathering resistance, heat resistance and resistance for low temperature brittleness, they are likely to be damaged chemically by brake fluid, battery electrolyte, engine oil and automatic transmission fluid and their service lives are to be very shortened. Wipe off hoses immediately if any of these come into contact with the hoses.
Since resistances for heat or low temperature brittleness are gradually declining according to time accumulation of hot or cold conditions for the hoses and their service lives are shortening accordingly, it is necessary to perform careful inspection frequently when the vehicle is used in hot weather areas, cold weather areas and a driving condition in which many steering operations are required in short time.
Particularly continuous work of relief valve over 5 seconds causes to reduce service lives of the hoses, the oil pump, the fluid, etc. due to over heat.
NOTE: There are conditions in which a fluid leak is diagnosed, but is not actually leaking. This is because the fluid spilt during the last maintenance was not completely wiped off. Be sure to wipe off spilt fluid thoroughly after maintenance.
