I’m not worried about reusing the nut. The new line came with new nuts haha but thanks for the info on gaining space...my dad is convinced that the whole steering rack must be removed...and that a flare nut wrench and crescent are exactly the same

 

IF he thinks that a flare nut wrench and a crescent wrench are the same he has no business helping this job, then you should never listen to a word he says ever again. The earth is flat too right?

Regarding the vice grip and nut, I meant regarding triggering the new one.

 

Yeahhhh were gonna take a look today. He has put more money into this project than I have, to date, so I don’t mind letting him trial and error with me.

 

So we used a legit flare nut wrench and pb blaster and it’s still rounding out the nut :/ might have to replace the whole rack

 

Try the vice grip to free the old one, but use the flare but wrench to install the new.

 

Did just that. Got it all in and threaded but trying to tighten it, it was stripping even with the flare wrench. Got it to where we thought it’d be tight enough but spewed fluid everywhere. It’s just not possible to get it any tighter. The flanged end of the hose goes INTO the hole on the steering rack, correct? Or does it sit outside while the flare nut is the only part to actually ENTER into the rack???

adding insult to injury, as I pulled it back inside, steering pump whining, suddenly I lost power steering and the pump went silent...unsure if it’s toast now or not

 

Big update today! Finally got time to work on the truck again, was able to somehow tighten the steering line even more and was able to stop the leak! The steering pump which I thought was completely toast also worked once full of steering fluid! Overall a great day!