POP! goes the power steering...

[Ricolas]

Nipped out this morning, immediately noticed the steering feeling odd, and hearing a grinding noise on turning left. Then on turning right. So first thought was wheel bearing, then then power steering.
Empty pas reservoir, and quite a lot of recent fluid on the under tray.

Refilled the pas reservoir, and went for a quick drive. Steering great, no grinding noise. And under the bonnet? Whole front end splashed in steering fluid and under tray soaked. So this a pretty catastrophic failure.

I'll investigate exactly where it might be coming from over the weekend, but any thoughts from anyone as to what the usual suspect might be? A particular pipe/joint that fails?

And then it will be off to Mr Stott for a bunch of pipes etc...

(...and yes, MM, I'll take pictures when I do the work!! )

[fujikun]

I had the same on my early eunos. The pipes run under the front grille and rad to cool them . They'd rotted right through. I cut them off and replaced with hydraulic pipe from work. But you can get new pipes easy enough

[Mazda Mender]

If it is the cooler pipe Andy does a lovely py pass hose to replace it...
M-m

[Ricolas]

Ah - interesting! Once I have got the under tray off and can have a decent look, and know where it is coming from that might come in useful.

[Ricolas]

A chance to get the car up now I am back at home again. Wheels off too, so that I can rebuild the front brakes (using the site's guide!) Undertray off, wiped off some of the excess muck and steering fluid.

Usual suspect looking in very good nick.

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...problem is over here -

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Wiped off the fluid, and immediately a new bead of it appeared and started dripping. Found the hole:

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Looking around the front, the other pipes seem ok, and do connections. So I'll order that up from Andrew and get it replaced hopefully tomorrow/Weds.

[Ricolas]

although if anyone knows what that upper pipe is called, that would make ordering a new one easier! Most of the online diagrams are a little unclear...

[Ricolas]

Andrew reckons it is the return pipe, as do I do that is ordered. Fit it on Weds I think.

[Mazda Mender]

Link this build thread to him...he is Admin on here buddy.
M-m

[Ricolas]

Fitted today, photos to follow tomorrow when I have a moment.

Love that the Autolink delivery came about 6 hours before the confirmation of despatch email came through - that is certainly the right way around - brilliant!

[Ricolas]

First job then is to clean off all the gunk so that I can see what I am doing. So a soak with some engine degreaser, and then a hose off.


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Clip to Flexi-hose is behind the pipe and inaccessible. Excellent, how incredibly helpful.


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So airfilter box off to reach the clips.



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Will have to undo these clips holding the pipes apart, and to the rack itself. They look a bit crusty. A soak with penetrating fluid and fingers crossed for later.

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Clip off. Bolt would not move so I levered it off. This close you can see that the upper return pipe is not in good shape even here.



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Other clip bolts moved - so easy enough to get off if fiddly



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All the while, steering fluid dripping from hole…



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17mm spanner to connector,I would personally recommend a C spanner so you can get a better grip and less likely to slip, but i only had a open spanner in my kit, care to apply even and gentle force rather than any violence.



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OK. Off, and dripping into tray below. Rubber hose at other end is unclamped, so ought to slide off.

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And it’s off



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yeah. Not looking great really…

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New one!



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End in to rubber hose. Sorry for blurred photo. Note white dot on hose - this aligns with a white dot on the pipe (which I did not take a photo of, sorry!) Clamp back on.

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Screw new pipe in carefully. Back off first to find thread start, then gently tighten. Once happy threads are aligned, tighten up properly.



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Reattach clamps.



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*

Now fill reservoir with fluid. Turn steering a few times full lock. Check level. Refill, do again.

Once happy, start engine, and do the same again with the steering pump active.

Check for leaks.

Level settled? Job done.

[Ricolas]

I need to edit that last post to get the photos in the right order. I'll do that in due course.

Whilst the wheels were off, I decided to deal with the front brake callipers and carriers. Followed Flea's excellent guide, and replaced seals, bleed valves and pistons. Cleaned off as much rust as I could manually. Post change brake bleed, and did a bleed of the clutch whilst I was about it. New fluid always good, right?

BUT this is why we work on our brake calipers. Look at this these pistons and the rubber seal:

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[Mazda Mender]

M-m

[Ricolas]

Thanks!

A lot of the things that I do are made a lot easier by this forum, and to a certain extent, give me the courage to give things a go.

Oh - and thanks for the spanner edit! I don't always have the perfect tools to hand, so it is brilliant to be given pointers like that, and it'll help anyone that reads too.

you wanted me to tag Mr Stott into the thread - how do I do that? Be nice to give him a big given the speedy delivery of various bits and pieces.

[Mazda Mender]

https://www.autolinkmx5.com/



He is our forum sponsor for this year and also a admin on here and the menders FB groups....
M-m

[Ricolas]

A link! Indeed.

When I sent him an email with a photo, he confirmed the part that I needed, and it was with me within 24 hours. The post being what it is at the moment, I guess you cannot guarantee anything, but it was brilliant service on all levels: price, communication, delivery.

Which for those of us who are *not* experienced mechanics, and are learning as we go, is bloody useful.