Power Steering High Pressure Hose Replacement

[Gregster1234]

I was wanting to know what is involved in changing the high pressure power steering hose. I read on here that you have to pull the motor?

 

[tux]

I have changed that hose without pulling the motor.

 

Essentially, unbolt the the hose from the gearbox.  Unbolt the hose from the power steering pump.  Then remove bolted in hose clips along the back of the firewall.

To install hose, follow the same procedure.

I removed the hood so i didn't keep hitting my head when i was reaching back there.

Make sure to use very good line wrenches.  I use SK wrenches now based on recommendations but have heard that Snap-On are better. 

In the past I've used craftsman, harborfreight, Miller (the chinese made ones, not the old ones made in USA) and husky line wrenches... they all rounded off line nuts

Edited February 9, 2022 by tux

[Gregster1234]

Thanks a lot for your help, I will follow your recommendations.

Thx

Greg

[tux]

you may not need to remove the hood! 

I'm just exceptionally tall

[obsolete]

I was just removing these too recently and I agree that cheap flare wrenches will definitely round off the nuts. I felt the wrench starting to slip and stopped before it did too much damage.

I've had great success with the crowfoot style flare wrenches. They are way thicker and more rigid than a standard wrench. They're not too expensive either, good tools to have on hand.

[Gregster1234]

Awesome advice, do you know what size they are?

[obsolete]

Sorry, I can't remember--definitely 12mm, 14mm, or 17mm...

I could check in the next day or two.

[tux]

Just buy a set, you'll need it for the brakes at some point

[kev]

14mm for the HP. 17mm for the LP. 
 

There is hardly any room for a flare wrench. I use a crows foot with a 12” extension and 8” extension on the ratchet.  Brings the ratchet up over the intake.  Look straight down on the joint. You’ll have a good view and take your time and not let the crows foot slip off.   

[TexasQuest]

It's difficult to replace it with the head and manifolds still intact but not impossible. 

[Gregster1234]

Thanks guys, I am going to do this weekend. Just bought a set of crowsfoot line wrenches.

[kev]

It’s not difficult. If you are replacing the line anyways, just cut the line and put a socket on it.  
 

pull the heat shield that goes in the turbo area. There are a few brackets you have to remove but it comes right out.  

[psu_Crash]

In my experience getting them off isn't hard. Getting that hard line back on the steering box though is a serious pain. That's why I went with all flexible lines now.

Which brought on it's own set of issues ... but I digress

[kev]

1 hour ago, psu_Crash said:

In my experience getting them off isn't hard. Getting that hard line back on the steering box though is a serious pain. That's why I went with all flexible lines now.

Which brought on it's own set of issues ... but I digress

I agree, that is the hardest part.   One usually threads in fine but the other always is a pain (and it's usually not consistent per car).   If you are replacing the line, start the threads of the fitting in the steering box before you start clamping the line back in.  

[Gregster1234]

That's a great point about not clipping in place until threaded in.

[Gregster1234]

Well the line went in perfect, except it took 3 hours to get it in the steering box! The crowsfoot wrench with an 18-24 inch extension is a must. I got an awesome set at  NAPA, thanks for the great advice.

[kev]

Great to hear!   Thanks for letting us know it worked.   3 hours...damn!   I've struggled with getting those starting to thread in but not for that long.   Was it an aftermarket line or a good used one that you put in?  

[Gregster1234]

It was a Edelman, I used the handle of a floor jack to bend ever slightly to line up the threads going into the steering box, my hand just barely got down to thread it, the pump side was easy!