Thread: pwr steering rack leak

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I have replaced the rack and pinion in my 40 Ford due to a leak arounf the input shaft.
Used a New ( No reman) rack from Napa. all oring/teflon seating surfaces look excellent.
I have tried new fitting and old fitting trying to get a leak proof seal on the High pressure side of the rack. So far I'm a failure. Fitting sizes are 9/16-18 on the high side and 5/8-18 on the low, the low isn't leaking. the fitting adapters converts to 6an hose.
Is there a sealer or some better fitting out there that will end this problem? Thanks

Is that the right kind of fitting? It looks like it should be a tapered fitting. Isn't the bottom of the rack fitting tapered?

Thats the fitting they call for. The rack has a tapered edge at the outer lip and the rest is square/flat . I see other designs that look like they would work better but none with the existing thread.
another close up pic

this design would work much better but I can find one with the right threads and Not sure even it would work. Don't know how unform the rack drilling an tapping are beyond the top edge and threads.

Is there no way to find out what thread is in the rack? There should be a flare fitting in that thread if you jus know what it is. There must be someone here that knows fittings better than me. I know transmissions take a special thread, had to get one for my trans lines. What vehicle is this rack made for, there should be info out in google land for the fitting type.

Those fitting adapters are correct. Those stock racks use a steel line flared with a tube nut above the flat flare and the o ring seats in the bore of the rack. I used those fittings and an style fittings to hook my power steering rack up.

How about trying an O-ring that's just a tiny bit fatter?

I "THINK" (Not fa sure, you decide) this is what you need to fix your leak. It appears it was designed to seal in the socket.

https://www.amazon.com/Russell-64802.../dp/B003CGSUWO
https://www.amazon.com/Russell-64803.../dp/B003CGSQ0A

should be an inverted flare.

Originally Posted by JOATMON

I "THINK" (Not fa sure, you decide) this is what you need to fix your leak. It appears it was designed to seal in the socket.

https://www.amazon.com/Russell-64802.../dp/B003CGSUWO
https://www.amazon.com/Russell-64803.../dp/B003CGSQ0A

Thank you JOATMON That's the fitting I was wanting to try. Ordered it and will see if that works.

Tried new style fitting and it leaked worse then the first one. Going to try a fatter oring on the original fitting, got nothing to lose but more pwr flu. If that fails try will be a factory hose from a mid 80's GM . Just didn't want to take out the nice looking braded stainless steel lines but I'm sick of this leak.

Link update

below is a pic of Teflon oring that I tried and then cut off the fitting that I modified.


this pic of fitting shows the round recess cut into the flat surface of the sealing area of fitting.


This was my last attempt to stop the leak. It has almost stopped but there's still a minor leak. I tried tightening the fitting to various torques and in the end I tightened as tight as it could go.
I'll get back to trying something again someday but for now I'm keepig a rag handy.

Are you sure that doesn't take a flare fitting? Sure looks like it should.

Factory hoses have oring that goes down inside that sets at the bottom, they look like these fitting pictured here. I tried this type fitting and it leaked worse. I would have to piece together factory hose to make connections in my truck, its extremely tight. The fittings I'm using are supposed to work.

There's not a lot of shoulder on the fitting, but I wonder if a copper ring would would seal it.



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Originally Posted by Mike P

There's not a lot of shoulder on the fitting, but I wonder if a copper ring would would seal it.



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That's worth a try!