Hi. I've got a 2004 Ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi. I've got a power steering fluid leak that is coming from the low pressure return hose about 2" from the gearbox. I bought the new hose (has a 22mm nut on it) but cannot get the nut undone from the gear box. It appears it is a 20mm nut. I've tried a 19 and 21 and they don't fit. I bought a 20 mm wrench and it fits but the nut will not break loose. I've tried PB blaster and let it soak all day. I've looked for a 20mm flare wrench but cannot find one. Is there a trick to getting this to break loose? Thanks for any input!

 

Got a pic? Have you improved leverage with a pipe handle on the wrench or using a breaker bar? Maybe try an impact, but that sounds like a sensitive place to use one.

 

Be sure to use a line wrench (5 sides). Parts store may have loaner flare wrench set with the crows feet line wrenches.
Agree that a pic would be good.

 

A 22mm nut on a return line???? That seems more than a bit excessive.

 

22mm is large, you could use an O2 sensor socket on it. May be 7/8.

 

Here's a picture. The top nut is the gearbox to cooler line, low pressure, and is a 20mm nut. The new hose is a 22mm nut. I found the leak, a drip, at the gear box end near the oem clamp. I decided to put a hose clamp, shown in pic, and it pretty much eliminated the leak. I tried pb blaster soaking overnight, tapping the nut lightly, etc. Etc. And it won't budge. I can order a 20mm crowsfoot flare wrench for $16 so I might try that. I also wondered about just cutting the old hose off the metal piece that goes into the gear box, get a new piece of hose, and clamp over the metal piece. Scared to fool with that nut if the leak is tiny. If I mess up, its a new gearbox. Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

I also saw a video where the guy cut off the metal pipe near the nut and then used a six side socket to remove it. I wondered if that might get metal inside the pipe and then into the gearbox which might get in the system? That wouldn't be good.

 

If you cut it with a hack saw, or cut off wheel, yeah, likely gonna get some debris in there. Now, use some side cuts, and it should be less of an issue.

 

Thanks for the information. I got a question. Let's say I cut the hose off carefully off the metal tube that goes into the gearbox. Wouldn't the outside diameter of that tube fit inside a power steering hose from the auto parts store? It looks like the same diameter as the tube on the cooling box. That would be the easy way to not mess with that nut.

 

Thanks for the information. I got a question. Let's say I cut the hose off carefully off the metal tube that goes into the gearbox. Wouldn't the outside diameter of that tube fit inside a power steering hose from the auto parts store? It looks like the same diameter as the tube on the cooling box. That would be the easy way to not mess with that nut.