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One of the small lines on the steering rack failed due to corrosion. The new lines will be here later this afternoon via UPS.
Removing the old lines involves dropping the rack down after disconnecting the two large lines as well as the steering column. All of that went well enough as did three of the four small fitting on the steel lines.
The fourth fitting did not want to come loose. I soaked it for days with no joy. Today I cut the line at the fitting and put a six point socket on it. It came loose but remained very tight in trying to remove it. I tried additional PB Blaster and then screwing it back in a bit before trying to unscrew again it but nothing was working.
When I finally got it out I found that there had been a rust build up on the end of the fitting and it damaged the threads all the way out. The rack is aluminum and the fitting is steel.
I cut another fitting off of the old line and cleaned it up. I can screw it in as it is apparently following what little remains of the threads in the rack.
I did not attempt to see if it will tighten up. I figured I probably have one shot at tightening the new fitting and did not want to do anything to lessen the chance of getting the new line tight enough so as not to leak.
Anybody have any thoughts on what I might do to increase my chances of getting the new fitting tight enough to prevent leaking?? Do you think teflon tape would be advantageous? I also thought about a few wraps of aluminum foil as a way to decrease the diameter of the hole now that the threads have been damaged.
Any ideas will be considered.
Thanks, Randy
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