08kk power steering line - please help!

dsmmrm · **Joined:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:02 am **Posts:** 4

Hello all,

This is my first post. I apologize for using it to beg for help but I am at a bad place with my beloved jeep. I posted this over in the KJ country forum as well but have not had any responses.

Anyway...

One of the small steel lines that runs from one point on the steering rack to another point on the rack has busted. It has a pinhole in it which leaks quite quickly under pressure. When it broke my PS was gone within 2 miles. Right now there is a rubber hose with a hose clamp over it as a patch which slows it down quite a bit but it still leaks. This is not one of the lines to/from the pump or cooler, which are readily available, it is a part of the rack gear itself.

It is all steel like a brake line. This line is not sold separately from the rack itself and no commercial mechanic around here is willing to try to fabricate one. I tried removing it myself but just can't do it in the driveway. Maybe with a lift but I can't seem to get to it with what I have.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I was quoted $1200 to put a whole new rack in. This seems absurd considering the rack is fine otherwise. Anyone r&r the steering rack or have some other words of wisdom?

DREDnot · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:53 pm

A co-worker had the same issue on a Camaro. It was one of the fittings that got buggered up and it was "new rack only" according to the dealer. He tried everything and no go. Even had a hydraulic line fabricator take a crack at it. He finally ponied up and bought a new rack.

Ted15 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 5:36 pm

What year is your KK? I'm not trying to be the master of the obvious but have you looked into a warranty repair or a service bulletin?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 5:53 pm

Ted15 wrote:

What year is your KK? I'm not trying to be the master of the obvious but have you looked into a warranty repair or a service bulletin?

08 Ted

Ted15 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:02 pm

Wasn't there something wrong with the 08's steering rack? If I remember correctly, someone broke theirs last year or the year before and the replacement was an upgrade. I don't remember who paid for the repair though.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 6:49 pm

Wasn't it Musclez back when his KK was brand new and he was running the Daystar lift?

dsmmrm · **Joined:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:02 am **Posts:** 4

It is an 08 with 135K on the clock so warranties are out. If anyone has had the rack out can they confirm if it is a standard brake line type fitting or some proprietary thing? It looks like the fitting itself is 12mm but I can't get enough access to get either end out with a wrench. I am thinking of just buying the rack and doing the whole shebang. If I do and can examine the fitting unencumbered and if it's easily removed I may try and cut the ones in the jeep and removed them with a six point socket from straight on rather than r&r the whole rack. I'll have a spare rack then, just in case...

At The Helm · **Posted:** Mon Oct 08, 2012 1:05 pm

Maybe try local junkyards.
Make sure its an 08 your pulling from beccause I beleive they changed the rack on 09s +.

Ted15 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:45 pm

Atthehelm wrote:

Maybe try local junkyards.
Make sure its an 08 your pulling from beccause I beleive they changed the rack on 09s +.

I think the newer ones work and they're stronger. Check over mtnluver's threads, one of them shows where he broke the steering rack on his 08 KK and I'm pretty sure it was replaced with a newer one. :2cents:

At The Helm · **Posted:** Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:00 pm

Upgrading the whole rack would be better, but i was talkin just pulling the part that he needed.

Pierocksmysocks · **Posted:** Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:33 pm

Had something similar happen like two weeks after I got my KK in 08, wheels locked in a left turn coming off the interstate. Kinda ended up in oncoming traffic, but managed to get it off the road. Warranty covered it though.

dsmmrm · **Joined:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:02 am **Posts:** 4

For anyone who is interested in the final outcome of my dilemma. I found a steering rack on ebay from a junk yard. Pam's auto in MN. I got good customer service when I asked some questions about the lines. Not a plug for them, just an observation. Cost was around $180 USD shipped.

Anyway, I took the line off the salvage untit and put it on my existing rack without removing my rack. The only disassembly I had to do was remove the battery and supporting structures to get to the top fitting. The bottom one was more or less accessible from below. That's not to say it was an easy r&r. If I had more time, removing the fan, shroud, and radiator would have left me with more skin remaining on my hands.

For the record, it is NOT a simple flange like a brake line. The end is formed in a fairly odd way and has an o-ring on the line itself. The whole thing is held in place with a 12mm fitting. I doubt it would be practical to fabricate one.

Thanks to all who responded. The various suggestions here helped me formulate a plan of attack that was the least intrusive on my walet while still providing a proper fix.

I now have a spare steering rack minus one transfer line. There was no core charge from Pam's so I guess I'll hang on to it.

Cherrie 274 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:22 am

Thanks for the update. I like when somebody finds another way to do a job.

dsmmrm · **Joined:** Wed Oct 03, 2012 9:02 am **Posts:** 4

I am kind of amazed at this but the other transfer line on my Jeep blew out Wednesday. I assumed that when I lost all the fluid again that my previous repair had failed somehow. Nope. The other line burst. I didn't bother doing both of them the first time around: A. because I had never heard of anyone having this problem before and thought it unlikely to happen again. and B. It's a giant pain in the butt to get these lines off without taking the steering gear out, which is an even bigger PIA.

So my Saturday is again set for me. Yay.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Nov 09, 2012 4:07 pm

dsmmrm wrote:

So my Saturday is again set for me. Yay.

Sorry, man. But you know, a Saturday wrenching on the Jeep is better than a good day at work, even if it's not as good as a Saturday doing whatever you want. :5SHOTS:

08kk power steering line - please help!

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