Power Steering Fluid leak?

[tuner culture]

Looks like i have power steering Fluid leaking, I was low, I filled it up, a week later it was low and a puddle was under the car....

Does anyone Have ideas what could be the issue or the best way to trace the problem? Is this something that can be done on jack stands?

Thanks

[MikTip]

Yes...

The two rubber hoses going into the steering oil cooler tend to rott and leak...

[tuner culture]

Do you know where they are located? can i see them from top or crawl under?

[MikTip]

Do you know where they are located? can i see them from top or crawl under?

Under left side....

[tuner culture]

thanks... will take a look

[MikTip]

Leaks occur around clamps #27

[old guy]

Leaks occur around clamps #27

Good call. Mine was leaking from there. Changed out the clamp and all is well.

[johnwiz]

Good call. Mine was leaking from there. Changed out the clamp and all is well.

+1 Had the same thing happen on our '01.

[MikTip]

Good call. Mine was leaking from there. Changed out the clamp and all is well.

Thanks Old Guy!

My two hoses actually dry rottted there and leaked...had to cut them back a slight and reattach with new new clamps.

[tuner culture]

Thanks! will check it out and let you know! Appreciate the help!!

[sinistervii]

Thanks! will check it out and let you know! Appreciate the help!!

What side is it leaking from? I had a bad leak last year during the winter and Ordered a rebuild kit for the rack. Was a PITA, but leak is gone and didnt have to pay 800 for a new rack. set back a full day, so if that's the case with yours it can be done.

[BlazinB5]

Thanks Old Guy!

My two hoses actually dry rottted there and leaked...had to cut them back a slight and reattach with new new clamps.

how hard was it to reconnect the lines after cutting off part of it? was there enough slack to reattach without much difficulty? i actually have a leak at both clamps right now. two weeks ago i had my mechanic do a timing belt job, and he actually removed the whole front end, versus service mode. i wonder if there was a possibility that had any impact on the leak?

[customa4]

Should be plenty of slack to cut a small piece of the hose off. You can try some different clamps on there for starters before you cut anything.

[Spike00513]

What side is it leaking from? I had a bad leak last year during the winter and Ordered a rebuild kit for the rack. Was a PITA, but leak is gone and didnt have to pay 800 for a new rack. set back a full day, so if that's the case with yours it can be done.

If you haven't already, please post info on the rebuild kit.

how hard was it to reconnect the lines after cutting off part of it? was there enough slack to reattach without much difficulty? i actually have a leak at both clamps right now. two weeks ago i had my mechanic do a timing belt job, and he actually removed the whole front end, versus service mode. i wonder if there was a possibility that had any impact on the leak?

The lines are not hard to work with at all. They're just rubber hoses held on by clamps, nothing special. IDK about slack as I have a 3.0, and I did end up being able to cut mine up (had to) to install a Magnefine in-line P/S filter, so you can do that as well if you want. I assume service mode and/or tampering with the hoses could cause a leak. For example, I had a poor connection/clamp-force on a coolant line. I jacked up the engine to replace motor mounts. That pried open the line a little, enough for coolant to leak. As soon as I put the engine back down, the leak stopped.

Corbin-style clamps apply constant pressure. I don't believe this style does. So maybe the clamping force reduced over time and resulted in a leak. Any legitimate hardware store will have these clamps for a few bucks at most. Home Depot has them in "bulk", meaning no-less than a pack of 7 or something. I forget what section they're in, but its not in the section that has the bite-style. By bite, I mean the perforated ones that bite into hoses. Some employees know what they are, some don't (in case you ask them to help you find it). I assume Lowe's is like Home Depot in that aspect. There's also the dealer. I'm against bite-style clamps. I don't believe corbin-style clamps apply enough clamping-force for this application.

AFAIK, front end removal or service mode shouldn't affect the P/S system, but maybe for some reason (I have 3.0, not familiar with 1.8T), he nudged (or smacked) the hoses or something so they leaked a bit - IDK. Or like MikTip said, they dry-rot/leak over time, and yours just happened to do that at this time.

[deyrag]

Just a comment on this. A used spark plug makes the perfect sized plug for these hoses if you need to disconnect them for any reason.

[texasboy21]

A new power steering cooler with new hoses would be an inexpensive fix/upgrade. It should cool better and will increase the fluid capacity just a bit. A few feet of tubing and a couple of hose barbs are the only additional parts you need.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hda-402/overview/

[gigglebeans]

Been dealing with a leak from that exact spot for a bit now after I put on the fmic. The hose clamp I originally put on when I was reconnecting punctured the line next to it so I had to cut it back some, creating a steep angle while the hose was still attached to the plastic hose retainer on the side of the frame going to the bumper crash rods. Freed up the hose and put on a new clamp becuase the old one broke and good as new. Was considering buying a replacement hose when I thought the angle couldn't be helped, and came across this: http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...0Return%20Hose
About $80-100 cheaper than ones I found online for my vin, but it was under the 8D vin, so any idea if the bottom hose would still fit at the rack connection?

[AudiKilla]

how hard was it to reconnect the lines after cutting off part of it? was there enough slack to reattach without much difficulty? i actually have a leak at both clamps right now. two weeks ago i had my mechanic do a timing belt job, and he actually removed the whole front end, versus service mode. i wonder if there was a possibility that had any impact on the leak?

Is this visible only from underneath the car and have to remove belly pan?

I have a B7 A4 and I'm leaking a lot of power steering fluid. Soon as I fill it up, after a minute it loses most of it and starts making whining sound.

[BumblebVR6]

Is this visible only from underneath the car and have to remove belly pan?

I have a B7 A4 and I'm leaking a lot of power steering fluid. Soon as I fill it up, after a minute it loses most of it and starts making whining sound.

Yes and no. You can see the lines from the d/s engine bay. They terminate at the P/S cooling tube mounted in front of the condenser. You may be able to see them when you pop the hood. It's been a while since I had the OEM setup. I replaced mine with an aftermarket unit and AN lines that I adapted to the oem rubber lines. Good luck!

[jquattro]

That picture was from under the car. Everything is easy to get to from underneath, for these two hoses.

[AudiKilla]

Ya thanks I checked it out and they were fine. In my case it was the steering rack itself leaking.

[Human Garbage]

Ya thanks I checked it out and they were fine. In my case it was the steering rack itself leaking.

That sucks man. I'm still on my original, but I've read good reviews of Rack Doctor for replacements: https://shop.rackdoctor.net/A4-SERIES_c65.htm