Power Steering Fluid leak - not from hoses or banjo bolts

[mrf]

I can't figure out where my power steering fluid is leaking from.

- relocated reservoir to RH front of engine bay
- new hose from reservoir to pump
- new hose from cooler to reservoir
- new crush washers all around. all 8 of them
- new seals in power steering pump
- tierod boots are dry and not full of fluid

There is still fluid that leaks pretty fast and drips from the rack below the steering column.
IMG_20130731_215543_092.jpg

Banjo bolts on steering rack appear to be dry.
IMG_20130731_215720_498.jpg

Thanks for your help.

[Eric93se]

Wipe it all clean and put the front in the air, run the engine and have someone underneath watch while someone turns the steering lock to lock a few times.

[mrf]

OK, will do. Does there need to be a load on the front wheels while steering?

[Eric93se]

Sure lower the wheel on to your chest and spin the wheel a few times lol. I would try it with no load, the wheels are a weighted load for now. Hopefully it isn't a seal on the pump you rebuilt.

[mrf]

It's not. The pump itself is dry. The leak seems to coming down the rack inline with the steering column from the back side. Don't know if it's actually leaking from the top or what.

Same leak was there before I rebuilt the pump. Well, the pump was also leaking but it's not anymore.

I suspect the lines that run from one side of the rack to the other externally. The joints closer to the steering column seem to be dry. Maybe it's the other ones?

Or could it be leaking out of that big 22mm bolt thing? I removed it and I just saw some heavy grease around the ball bearing that's inline with the bottom end of the steering shaft. It looked fine to me.

The only other spot could be from the top of the rack where the steering shaft attaches onto the splines.