Tightening power steering fittings

[Devin]

I am reinstalling my high pressure and return power steering lines and I am unsure of the tightening procedure. The manuals say nothing about the amount of tightening to be done.

I just purchased 10 more nylon o-rings for this installation. I tightened the fitting on the pump I think a bit much because I can see the o-ring coming out a little around the threads. The guy at Napa agreed. However I don't know how much to put into it. Any rules of thumb that'd be accurate and avoid leaks?

 

[Devin]

I know someone around here has changed their racks...

I did do a search but couldn't come up with anything. SDPatt had a good post but nothing about torque or tightening at all.

 

[FamilySHO]

Helms does have torque ranges for all the fittings. I don't have Helms in front of me. I seem to recall they were in the 15 to 20ft lb range. Since the fittings are tightened with a wrench I "practiced" getting the feel of how much pressure to apply with a torque wrenck on a bolt. It doesn't take much to get the teflon seals to seal. You're better off under-torqueing and then tightening if there's a leak.

 

[TYSHO]

I just tightened mine till they didn't sink in anymore. It was pretty much twist till it stops, then make it snug a little...like an oil filter. Just make sure you don't put too much on it, as those threads will strip easily. The torque rating I remember was like 17lbs.

 

[Devin]

I don't think I went too far then. Though the nylon washer definitely squeezed out a bit when I took the other ones off the nylon washer was deformed there too.