Want to pull the power steering lines from the rack to fully drain my system, not able to figure out if the o-rings are the same for pressure and return. The parts book is not very clear. Pictures from Rockauto appear to show orings the same size. Can anyone confirm?

Can anyone confirm if the fluid reservoir contains an internal filter or screen?



Pressure hose, rack end

Return hose, rack end

 

I have zero answers to your questions, but I'm losing power steering fluid in my Baja after having a hose replaced last year. Are you solving a loss of fluid with this job? I'd love to Nox Vidmate VLC know if there's a common problem my mechanic doesn't know about.

 

yes they have a screen on the fill hole, lift up to remove. sometimes they fall out inside and you won't be getting it back

don't make your job harder, i would suck it out the top from time to time. it's just power steering fluid

 

Agree with xalty; I just kept sucking the dirty fluid out from the reservoir with a syringe and plastic hose (which reached right down inside it) and replacing with new; took several cans of fluid (not that expensive) before a nice clear red colour? Drove my car inbetween fills?
Obviously my steering fluid is still not 100% brand new, but as near as dammit!
Probably cheaper than replacing something I might have broken should I have tried to dismantle it!!

 

Let me jump in here. Fully agree, pump out from the reservoir. Pry the tabs in a bit with a pick, lift out.

Don't disconnect any lines - above is the easiest way to replenish the PS Fluid.

 

Taken a while to get all the parts I needed, but I did go ahead and replace the reservor/filter assembly and drain the system at the rack end. I was told by a Jag tech the preffered way is to drain from the bottom of the system rather than try and flush out from the top with multiple exchanges. Besides, I had done that before and as I mentioned I wanted a complete drain and fill.

There is indeed a filter that is integral to the reservoir. The new unit has a fine plastic mesh screen on the return line, the old one had some kind of foam filter.

abonano, I'm not sure what tabs you mean, my reservoir has a lid that is molded to the rest of the body. No way I can see to disassemble it or service the filter by itself.

I haven't gotten measurements on the original o-rings, but will as soon as I get a moment free. I just matched them up with some HNBR orings from a kit I have. Refilled with new fluid, cycled the steering, and the pump seems to be much quieter now. I suspect my old filter was clogged after 140k miles and some previous fluid contamination.

Filter inside the new reservoir:


Filter inside old reservoir:


O-rings at rack end:

 

Mr Hamilton,
I have a small power steering fluid leak from up around the pump? So I imagine it will either be the pump seal itself, or the o-rings on the pressure hose?
How easy is it to replace the o-rings in the top end of the pressurised pipe, please? Do I attempt from the Driver's wheel well, or from underneath? I don't have a clue!