Well, today I found out that there is a pinhole in my power steering hose that threads into the PS pump and steering box; so obviously it needs to be replaced. Well I wanted to use stainless steel hose instead of the rubber stuff for looks and added durability (don't want anymore holes and PS fluid spraying all over my engine bay....again ) along with AN fittings. My question is, what is the thread size that comes out of the PS pump and the one that comes out of the steering box? Also, has anyone done this with SS hose and if so, mind providing pictures? Thanks in advance for any info provided!

 

They are a special fitting; some kind of O-ring deal. I don't htink you're going to find any kind of adapter for it.

Seems like I've seen stainless braided lines for some of those things somewhere though; try Classic Tube or Fine Lines. I can't recall whether I saw them for the late-model type pump and gear fittings.

What you might do though, is cut the existing (or new replacement.... they're cheap) hard line right behind the crimp-on fitting, and put a flare nut and a double-flare on it (put the nut on first!!!!), and then you COULD get an adapter quite easily to build a stainless braided line with.

 

i 2nd RBs suggestion.... cut the existing hardline, then use a hardline to AN adapter...... that way, you also retain the hard bends used to clear stuff...



someone outthere DOES make the special GM powersteering O-ring to AN adapters.. ive seen them on a few classic cars in car shows.... but i dont know where they got them from.



really though, i think the black line looks good..... but i like my lines and hoses black and i try to draw attention away from them... diffrent style...

 

From what I've been able to research Russell is the company. I haven't yet made and installed the high pressure P/S side hose. However, I have been looking into the parts required and will be doing it sometime this summer.

I haven't yet checked the pump side fitting. The box side fitting looks to be an 18mm x 1.5 thread. Here are a couple of links for the hose and required fitting (high pressure box side):

http://www.russellperformance.com/au...eer_hose.shtml
http://www.russellperformance.com/au...ose_ends.shtml

#648080 -6 to 18mm x 1.5 O-ring Seal

The hose ends and adapters are listed in the second link. Wish I could give a better answer. At least this should get you started.

RBob.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the info and suggestions. I didn't even really think about adapting an existing line to use AN fittings. Thanks RB83L69, you seriously almost ALWAYS have an answer to my questions! I think those part numbers are exactly what I am looking for though. Thanks again.

 

Be careful with what you use. A word of caution for you, Earls plumbling does NOT recommend using ther high end steel braided hose for a powersteering pump outlet line due to high pressure spikes in a typical power steering system that occur regularly (like at full lock) For this reason, Earls has developed "special" power steering hose for this use and the fittings are very limited to the early Signaw pumps.

Jegs does offer some adapters that fit our pumps, but be cautious of the outlet hose and fittings you use. I would suggest having some high pressure hydraulic crimped hoseends used- these are made ONLY with a special crimp machine and the proper HP crimp-on hoseends. (ps, I scuba dive, and know all about HP hoseends. I deal with 3000 psi tank pressures and gauges, your standard brake lines only use about 1600psi on average.

 

Yeah I was thinking about that also when I was looking in my Summit catalog...there didn't seem to be very many high PSI applications like those used for the PS high pressure hose. However, the links that RB provided go to hose that is recommended for ps applications and is good for 2500psi. What is the operating range of a PS system, normal and when turned lock to lock. I was under the assumption it was 1800-2000psi, am I even in the ballpark here?

 

Yes, the link RB gave you is great. Those Russell applications are in fact made specifically for PS hose use. I was just adding to be cautious and not use any "other" steel braided hose in the case you may think they would be fine because the pressure ratings on others is not up to par with the swivel-seal hose ends from Earls.

 

So noted. Thanks for the heads up. I think I may try and do both since I do like the idea of having the factory bends, but I'd also like to see what just the hose with those nice looking ends would be like. I'll try to get pics if I get it done in a timely manner.