Power steering leak 2000

[pjw73nh]

Greetings,

I have a power steering fluid leak. I believe (it appears to be) it is coming from what is described in the manual as the "power steering cooling pipe". It looks like it is right up front just behind the radiator on the cross member, and perhaps may have rusted through. All of the pipe is intact except one small corroded area.

I looked at the procedure in the manual to replace this and it looks rather complicated.

I figured I would just cut the leaky section out, and replace it with double hose clamps and a piece of fuel line.

My main question is: Is this in the return circuit (low pressure) or the supply circuit...High pressure.

Thoughts, commnents, suggestions?

Thanks.

P....../NH

[kornjulio]

Can't say for sure on the Venture, but my S10 cooler rotted out & I replaced it. I was on the lo side; so I assume the set-up should be the same? I usually associate what style of hose connection is used to how much line pressure there is....if it's a spring clamp, it's lo; crimped = hi....hth..

[pjw73nh]

I confirmed today that the leak is just before the cooling loop where i mounts to the cross member. Corroded and rusted. Is this low pressure or high? Thanks.

[gmtech1]

If it's before the steering gear, it's high pressure.

[Tech II]

Sounds like the cooling return line, low pressure.....

[pjw73nh]

I took care of it today. I still wasn't certain whether it was the hi or low side. More difficult than I anticipated. The hard part was getting the lines far enough away from cross member so I could get a tubing cutter to clear it. I ended up just gently bending them (hoping not to further damage them). I only did the one that was leaking. I am sure the other one will go soon. I used a 5 inch piece of 3/8 fuel injection line and 2 fuel injection clamps on each side. I flared each of the cut ends slightly to aid in retention. So far so good. Thanks for the replies.