Everyone ready to have a good laugh at my misfortune?

Monday evening I was out for pizza when I noticed an oil like substance on my cross member. Crawled down there to find out I was leaking power steering fluid from my high pressure line. So I went to the garage and taped it up and clamped it just to slow down the leak for the night as I already had electrical issues to address.

Tuesday rolls around. I get off work at 8 and go off to buy a new hose. As I'm leaving I notice it doesn't look right. I crawl under only to find out my gut was right and it was the wrong hose. So I go back in and exchange it. After arguing for some time about if its wrong or right they finally realize they typed in the wrong engine on their computer.

Now it's 9:30 and we're finally at the shop ready to get this new hose on. So I crawl underneath and attempt to remove the oil filter only to find that it ain't budging. I try many different things to get the bugger off trying not to break it as I had just done an oil change 2000km ago. I work at it for a few hours until 1am rolls around. At this point I'm beyond pissed so I figure I may as well get the hose undone from the rack and unbolt the brackets. This all goes smoothly. Next thing I know it's 1:30 and I'm back at the oil filter. On and off attempts at it until 4am and I accidentally puncture it. So I push it out of the shop and call it day.

It's now Wednesday after 5 and I'm back at the truck. 1 hour of trying to get a screwdriver through the filter in the tight space and no cigar. I've never had an oil filter this stuck! I always do my own oil changes so I know whats going in my vehicle.

Anyways I end up getting it off, and I'm case anyone else ever has a filter this stuck, here's a great way to get it off.

I had an oil filter socket that was slightly too big for my quaker state filter. So what I did is I drilled 4 holes into it on the front side and then drilled 4 self tapping screws into the filter. Hooked my ratchet up and gave a couple real good jerks and out she came!

So now I'm back at the line finally! Not enough space to safely cut the line with a power tool so I take the blade off my hack saw and slowly saw away at the line so I can get a deep socket over it onto the nut. Unfortunately I couldn't get it cut close enough it to get a 19mm over onto the nut!
I fight with it for over an hour and finally get it off. New line goes on fairly smoothly. Had it on in less then a half hour. So after this I get some supper.

It's now 10pm. I've done an oil change, and my new lines on and waiting for fluid. I fill it up to the max line and jump in and start bleeding it. 2 minutes later it's still whining so jump out to find a puddle of fluid coming from my brand new line. When the trucks just running without steering it pisses fluid out from between the nut and the piece of the line so I'm assuming the seal was cracked.

Yes I did put some fluid on the seals before sliding them in.

Anyways, I didn't work on it last night simply because I'm too frustrated with it and needed a night away from it. Tomorrow I'll be attempting to take the line out in one piece to see if my store will exchange it for me.

Here's to hoping it goes smooth :cheers:

 

Oh brother.......... Been there many times and I'm never proud of my self afterwards with some of the language that I use. The wives never get it either. They hear you complaining and just shake their head and say, "oh my gosh that sounds frustrating". Meanwhile you're so mad you could kill a lion with your bare hands or the screw driver you've thrown across the lawn a few times. You know that you will get it done after walking away a few times. We've all had those days and I'm not laughing at you, just feeling your pain

 

Oh oh. My 2004 just began leaking very slightly. Have not confirmed what it is yet but its dripping from the drivers side about the rear side of the engine. The only fluid that is low is the power steering fluid??? Would this be the same as yours?
I had read before about the power steering hose being a ***** to replace so I'm interested in your results and comments.
Good luck with your repair.

 

Near the rear of the engine as in close to the cab? I don't believe so. But what could be happening is it could be spraying from the line and hitting a spot near the rear, then dripping down.

 

Had a few thoughts of scrapping the truck. Definitely needed the time away. Going in tomorrow with a clear mind! Hoping I can find a way without taking the pulley off to get the line back out in one piece so I can exchange it.

 

I feel your pain. I changed both lines on mine a few weeks ago. Took me 2 days, could probably do it in 2 hours now.
As for your leak, did you make sure the nylon washer was on the fitting that screws into the pump?

 

Yeah it was on there. The leaks coming from between the nut I screwed on and the fitting I pushed into the nut.

 

I hate it when projects go that way. Happens to everyone though. I've learned to take a break before I get too frustrated. At least now you know where everything is at and how to get to it, so hopefully it's just a matter of snugging it up or worst case replacing a seal. You'll get it. Good luck.

 

Thanks man! Heading out in an hour. We'll see how it all goes.

 

Il be honest here..
Sometimes it's just easier to plan on replacing more to make the project go a whole lot smoother.
Just swap the pump and lines together.. It's very easy when you pull the pump and have the fan and shroud out of the way.. Swap all the lines while your at it..
I had some trouble with the lines too.. But a box wrench and cheater bar (pipe) got everything in and out quickly.. One bolt on the pump will take a while to slowly wrench out..
Yes the pump may still be good, but if there is any front to back play on the impeller shaft then just swap it..