I need some honest answers here. My 88 240 leaks fluid from the hoses, and possibly the fittings, which I'm reluctant to replace at this point. I understand how, and I understand the simplicity of the job.

My question is just what kind of damage will I be doing if I let the car run without power steering fluid? I'm expecting that this is not a good idea, but I would like to know why.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks.

I bought a 240 that had been run w/o PS fluid for ~ 1 year, I ran it that way for another month until I could fix it. I replaced a hose, added fluid and never had a problem.

I think, however, that this was luck. The leak was up high and enough fluid stayed in the rack to keep it lubricated. It seemed odd that it didn't destroy the pump though.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Same thing that would happen if you ran the engine without oil or the transmission without oil... complete failure. Why? Because the pump needs oil to stay alive and the seals in the rack are designed to work with oil pressure and oil lubrication, no pressure and they can pop out of place and generally go bad without the oil. Sometimes a rack will leak if turned without oil pressure (without the engine running).
Charles

Running with the system dry will certainly ruin the power steering pump. It could freeze and have the belts go along the way.

What are you trying to accomplish?

Move it to the bone yard?

One of the lines on my steering rack is leaking from the fitting. The hoses should both really be replaced but I can't seem to track down the hoses I need.

Can you buy just the hoses on the rack? Or do you need to replace the rack? The only hoses on FCP is the pump to rack hose, and the low pressure return hose.

If it were leaking from the hose I would just slip some high pressure line over it and put some hose clamps on...but the fittings are the culprits I believe.

So in the end, since the Volvo was gifted to me, and I don't want to put a 300 dollar rack on it, I was entertaining the thought of taking off my PS pump hose and running the car as is.

If anyone knows a cheap alternative to find some new hoses for the rack I would appreciated the advice. Have also heard of people running into the problem of the new hoses having wrong fittings.

quick cheap short term solution number one is to buy bulk power steering fluid and check/fill regularly.

quick cheap solution number two is to find hoses at a junk yard. Find dry ones that don't appear to be leaking.

As others have said... don't run it dry. For one, it's bad for the system. For two, you'll lose your power steering and driving the car will become difficult and unsafe.

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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

OK, so what everyone is telling me is that the hoses on my rack are not replaceable???

I guess that is the question I would like answered. If I have to replace my rack, then I may as well run it dry and let it go...and if I have to replace in the future then I'm no worse off.

Thanks

No, I don't think anyone said that hoses are not replaceable--they certainly are and are not usually any sort of issue on the 240. If the banjo fitting on the pressure hose is leaking at the connection to the rack you may just need new copper washers. If the fittings are leaking where the hose is attached to the metal fittings, than used hoses are in order, to get you going. As another poster said, running the system dry will surely ruin the pump as well as the rack.

Yet again I'm not speaking of the hoses from pump to rack, or the low pressure return line.

I'm trying to replace / repair the metal lines that are located ON THE RACK. There are two of them, they are under pressure, and they have metal fittings. If you were to look directly at the front of the steering rack you will see both of them...ones runs towards the passenger side right on the front of the rack. Is this making sense because everyone seems to be thinking of the lines from the pump to the rack. I'm assuming my rack is similiar to others out there.

Thank you, sorry about the frustration.

The hard lines are available from Volvo, but prohibitively expensive (like $60-70 each). Just get a used (under $100) or rebuilt ($200) rack and press on.

If you also invest in a Bentley 240 manual, you'll be on your way to low cost Volvo ownership.

-Ryan
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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars

You keep referring to them as "hoses" than you say that isn't what you are talking about? What you really are talking about, is the hard lines and fittings on the bottom/front of the rack, right? Try a salvage yard, or a Volvo dealer, etc? I don't understand the relevance of it being gifted to you? Just because you are given a car, means you can't spend money on it? I don't understand. I guess if you didn't have to pay for it, it isn't worth anything to you?
Charles

FYI for the anyone interested:

- lines are right around 30 each from Volvo dealer. Mine were ordered blind due to the fact that the numbers on the rack didn't match anything in Volvo's database.
- you have to un-bolt the u bolt, which holds the rack assembly, on the drivers side to get the longer of the two hoses installed.

For those of you that replied thank you for the effort.