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Date:   Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:23:47 +0200
Reply-To:   Janne Ruohomäki <janne.ruohomaki@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   Janne Ruohomäki <janne.ruohomaki@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:   Re: Think I have sprung a leak in my powersteering lines! Need some guidance please.
Comments:   To: Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com>
In-Reply-To:   <DABC46E3-A22B-4311-A81A-128947A5DD80@mac.com>
Content-Type:   text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 7:06 PM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com> wrote: > I need some guidance please.

Now I don't know if I am going to be much of help but when something brakes I am obsessed by the reasons which led to brakedown.

... > Got home and it was empty. So I look today to see if I can see > anything. I had the lines replaced the fat & thin lines with copper > ones in 2007 I believe. I am noticing some red fluid around some areas > of the lines but I can't be sure where its really coming from.

I have no personal experience in copper lines but have been thinking about making ones. I dont think copper lines should corrode this fast. Can You tell if there are any signs of corrosion in your lines ? And do You drive in salty environment ?

> Where are the key areas to look for leaks?

I am just about to remove my corresponding lines from -90 syncro 2.1 wbx. Not sure if they are similar pipes at all, but mine are almost completely corroded almost the whole way. It starts right after the engine bay all the way to front. They didnt leak so far but I am replacing them as I am removing almost everything anyways.

For stress fractures or similar I would check the endpoints and joints. Also places long runs of unsupporterd pipe could vibrate and create such. I noticed that the original piping in my syncro was quite rigidly connected to body with rubber bushings in supports. And there were quite many of those supports, thats probably the reason why it did not leak at all but the piping looked like it would leak immediately almost everywhere.

... > Is this an easy job for one person to do in their backyard? > How long should it take? > If I brought the lines to a mechanic with a lift how long should it > take to replace the lines and add the fluid?

Deadlines deadlines.. What a terrible attitude and I am so bad in giving time estimates ;)

Now but seriously, of course it can be done in backyard. It can even be done in the forest, if You need to. You need to keep the fluids clean and dry though. And one reason why I am considering other alternatives than solid stainless: I can get home without this apparatus, the power steering. I actually like to drive cars without it, especially 4wd.

I would reserve almost whole day to this. I would at least, some could probably do this quite fast. Including removal of the old ones. You really don't want those lines left so that they will rub into something or wiggle.

Did I understand this correctly: You have non-flexible solid pipes currently, the ones that are leaking and the ones described would be made of more flexible stuff ? I would at least try to run those such through some place in the underbody where they can just lay, instead of hanging them. Its pretty long way from the engine to front of the van.


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