I recently discovered that the power steering pipes running along the front of the engine, parallel to the steering rack are corroded and are weeping - mainly the “lower” one.
I’ve ordered 2 replacement pipes from Autolink today, the high pressure and the return, so should be with me in the next day or so and I was planning to change them myself.
I’m sure this is a common issue and was hoping that other members may have similar experience and would be able to share any advice and tips to complete this job successfully.
I had a leak from my return pipe which is the lower one. The union at the steering rack was very tight, an open ended spanner would have rounded the nut, so I cut the pipe so I could get a socket on the union. The under tray has to be removed first. I also renewed the rubber return hose as at first I thought this was leaking but it had bonded itself to the pipe and was damaged in removing it.
The union on the new pipe can easily be tightened with an o/e spanner. Refilling and bleeding the system is straightforward and as explained in the manuals.
It has been quite a while since I did hydraulics, but I used to have a couple of semi-open-ended brake spanners a bit like this one below. A bit like a hex ring spanner but with a slot just big enough for the pipe to pass through.
I expect there will be one somewhere in the size you need to save fiddling about with saw or big nippers, although the ratcheted garden secateurs work rather well for the occasional end-of life small pipe chop.
Would I be correct in assuming that this is just a case of undoing the bolts at both ends, removing the rubber pipe and then replacing? No need to worry about emptying the system as it has already done this itself!
Yes, it’s all pretty straightforward but the system will need bleeding after refilling. From memory I think this is done by turning the steering from lock to lock a few times but you had better check with the manual.
Thanks to all of you for posting your messages about the replacement of the pas pipe, I’m just about to do mine on my California mk2, when I noticed the leek in the cooler pipe I checked all the pipes and found they were well rustEd so bought a full set to save coming back to them late. After reading all your posts I feel ready for the challenge ?????