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Compression fittings have no seal; they simply crush the tube. When I've used them, I flare the line a bit and then just let the natural effects of tightening the fitting take over.

They are not rated for very high pressures however. Unfortunately I don't know the numbers.

[quote=""vegasidol""]
The way that it's made...with water being able to just sit under the jacket, I'm surprised that this isn't a more common problem. I was thinking about replacing both lines, but I'm told the pressure line tends to go way before the return, (pressure line...imagine that? ) so I'll probably just replace the one.
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Remember that both lines on the pass. side are "pressure" lines. They're the signal lines off the front rack that tell the rear rack which way to turn.

On the driver's side you have feed/return for the system, but since the diff. pump provides the fluid pressure, neither of the lines that run the length of the car are under pressure.

Clint

[quote=""Monochrome""]Neat idea.

Do the fittings have some kind of rubber seal in them or does the tube itself get crushed between the fittings to make the seal? If it's the ladder, how long would it last under that kind of pressure? Could they withstand pressures as high as 50psi in the case of repairing fuel lines?

Are these available at any hardware store or did you get them from a specialty shop?[/quote]

I have used them to repair fuel feed lines under the car as well. So far it's been a 100% sucess rate. The lines and fittings are available at any autoparts store or hardware store. I don't think they will have a problem handling the pressure of a power steering system. The compression fitting has a little bushing that slides on the line. When you tighten the fitting it compresses this bushing causing it to semi-crush the line and create it's own seal. Once that bushing in on the line and crushed once, it's not coming off.

[quote=""Struggly""]Compression fittings have no seal; they simply crush the tube. When I've used them, I flare the line a bit and then just let the natural effects of tightening the fitting take over.

They are not rated for very high pressures however. Unfortunately I don't know the numbers.
[/quote]

I did a few minutes a research and couldn't find a compression fitting of that size that couldn't withstand less then 285 bar (or aprox 4200 psi if my math is right). I think it should be ok for the purpose of a PS system assuming that my findings are totally correct.

It lives!!!!

Hans, your DYI prompted my dad and I to fix my lines ourselves after a couple people fell through on some used lines. Really I almost ordered new lines a couple of times...but something would get in the way of me actually doing so. Just as well...it was an interesting process, and now I know more about my steering system than I ever thought I'd need to.

It did take a long time though.

Corrosion much?




Rust sawed off.




New pipe braised on with silver alloy.




Like the compression jig?


Not bad. A little rough...let's see if it holds.


See, now here's the problem. See the a/c drain that drains right on top of where the lines are? It basically insures your lines stay nice and wet by filling up that outer jacket that they have on them. If you haven't had problems with your lines yet, do something to divert this line from draining on your steering lines and/or remove that outer jacket from your lines.


Lines back in...protected by electrostatic tape, paint and shrink tubing. Yeah...it's probably overkill, (that's my dad!) and those lines just may outlast the rest of the car!


We bled the lines before I came into work today. I have to say, I am NOT a fan of watching my car suspended off all 4 wheels going 50-60 mph.

On the ramps...

Took the VR4 to work...everything's holding well so far. Just in time. The ATX's tranny has just about had it. It started slipping bad. 5-7 times in a row. Warming it up seems to help quite a bit...but it's still needs some TLC.

Ahhhh...the trials and tribulance of a 3S owner!

Your dad is cool

My dad used to be like that, before he broke his back

Nice fix... I like it!!!!

Awsome fix, had to do that about a year ago to my PSing line.

Ended up leaking again after a little while, but your setup seems much heavier duty. Little while meaning a year and a half later.