Power Steering Fluid Leak

[craig_the_german]

Hi all,

My MKIV (1.6 man) has developed a power steering fluid leak...

It appears to be leaking from the Banjo Bolt on the steering box where the pressure hose from the pump connects.

There appears to be a couple of washers under each side of the Banjo bolt head and I am guessing that is where it is leaking from. The previous owner replaced the pressure hose for the roadworthy (about 13000km ago) but I think they may have reused the washers.

Are there any tips or suggestions before I tackle replacing the washers to fix the leak....I'll pick the washers up this week.

Has anyone else done this job and found all the little traps

Thanks

[craig_the_german]

Hi,

What is the power steering fluid recommended by VW?

Is it something special or will everyday power steering fluid be ok?

Thanks

[SoVeReIgN]

There is a specific fluid for vw/audi etc and apparently it is the only one you should use (Likely story).

I didnt risk it and went and bought it from a vw dealer - $18 for a Litre bottle.. part number 000001 or something similar.

[craig_the_german]

Hi,

I've done a little ringing around and you are right, there is a particular power steering fluid to be used in our cars (MKIVs anyway).

It is part # G004000M2 and is $19.15 + GST per litre bottle.

I wonder what the difference is?

[craig_the_german]

Hi all,

Well I tackled the power steering leak this morning and got the job done.

There was, as always, a hic up.

I did the right thing and bought new power steering hose selling washers from my local VW dealer. "this should be a piece of cake" I thought.

Wrong.......

My trusty VW dealer managed to provide me with the wrong size washers so the ones I bought were useless (you don't know this until you have undone the banjo bolt, drained all the fluid and have the old leaking washers in your hand).

Off to the local parts place...no good....every size except the one I needed.

Finally found matching aluminium washers at the local Yamaha Motor cycle shop of all places.

Many thanks to the guys at Jimboomba Motorcycles who saved the day.

With the new washers fitted and the system topped up with the VW spec fliud, I'll wait and see if I was successful in fixing the leak.

[qsilverza]

hahah good on you for getting it done !

[99gti]

Nice one - I always love hearing a good story about a good old fashion DIY home job. Do you kow what the specs are for the washer in case anyone else runs into a similar problem?

[craig_the_german]

Hi,

The correct washers are 14mm inside diameter, 20mm outside diameter and about 1mm thick and are an alloy material...not steel.

The INCORRECT ones as supplied by VW are 16mm internal diameter. I'm going to ring VW parts tomorrow and find out what they do fit as I now have 2 spares

and at a cost of $0.77 each i don't want to waste my money...

[FknDubbin]

The power steering fluid used by VW in MKIV's is a mineral oil which shouldnt be mixed with other fluids. It can cause the seals and bearings in the pump to fail.