# 1996 Ford F150 - Loose nuts causing leak?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford\
**Created:** [July 14, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013 "2018-07-14T18:28:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Salle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Salle](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Salle)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013/1 "2018-07-14T18:28:36Z")

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How do I stop the power steering fluid from leaking out of its exit port at the bottom of the fluid chamber? There are two nuts here as a line connects to it. That’s where the leak is occuring.

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013/2 "2018-07-14T19:20:51Z")

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I think the bottom fitting is the return hose, rather than an exit port. It sees no real pressure and a hose clamp makes the seal. It is to a plastic reservoir tank that may have a crack or the O-ring that seals it to the power steering pump, has a leak. The hose itself may be old and cracked. You may have to remove the pump to inspect the hoses and reservoir housing and O-ring. A seal kit, with way more parts than you are likely to need is about $7 from Rockauto.

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**Author:** ![Salle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Salle](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Salle)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013/3 "2018-07-15T19:30:26Z")

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Thanks Mustangman, I cleaned everything up before going into actual repair. Now I see that the leak at the upper, plastic reservoir was probably just drips from me refilling it so many times. The real leak is down at the pump. Well, at a cast metal chamber. There is a rather large, round opening which has something going into it and that has tread-like marks going around it. Outside of this treaded thing is a large nut and eventual connection to the rods to that move the wheels. The metal lines and hoses all appear to be in good shape.  
Could this be an O-ring leak? And how do I get at it?

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-f150-loose-nuts-causing-leak/121013/4 "2018-07-15T23:38:57Z")

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> [@Salle](#):
>
> And how do I get at it?

The pump has to come out and pulled apart of the bench. Or just buy a rebuilt one. They aren’t very expensive.