by tilly » Fri Jul 21, 2017 5:03 pm
What a job...
The Ebay seller was on holiday, so cancelled the order. Had to go over the Ford Parts in Birmingham to pick up a high pressure pipe. I asked the stores guy if there was anything else that I needed, and he sold me a set of o rings. Right, thats all I need, so went home and stripped off the pipe. Found that the pipe had corroded where its held on by the rubber sleeve, near to the pump. Removed the pipe, and then found it had also gone on the return alloy pipe, where its held on to the chassis rail, with a two pipe clamp. Great, no way of getting a new pipe whilst the van was in its current state. The alloy pipe cracked as soon as I put any pressure on it, so I was lucky it didbt go whilst driving. Tried to take off the plastic clamp, holding the pipes onto the side of the steering rack, 5.5mm hex head screw, and it sheered off.. Removed the bolt holding the pipes into the rack, with a 10mm spanner, and out came the two pipes. Right, tried to remove the bolt, holding the front clamp as the new pipe comes with a new mounting bracket. That one was a bit tight, and it also sheered off, right where it enters the block, through steering pump body.. oh feck.
I then found that the storeman hadnt given me the hollow bolt that you pop on the end of the pipe, where it joins the pump. Sent my boy out to Ford of Stoke to pick up new low pressure alloy pipe, and a hollow bolt.. He returns and I, without thinking pressed the bolt onto the pipe, where it then locks in place. I have no idea if you need to fit any o rings in before pressing on this bolt, but its not leaked at all. Why the thing isnt supplied fitted to the pipe I dont know, as once its on, its never coming off.
Fitted everything, tightened up the bolts, and just had to push home the broken bolt on the front bracket, and secure with a squirt of silicone. Thats a job for another day, drilling out that broken bolt and removing it, if I keep the van any length of time.. Filled up the reservoir and turned the wheel from side to side a few times. Noise has gone, no leaks, and Im back to not filling the pot up every few days...
Pretty easy job if you have all the parts to hand, but messy, and bits are liable to break off due to rust.
Mk7, FWD 110ps GLX in Silver 2007