High pressure power steering line replacement

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Jinxed, May 7, 2015.

  1. Jinxed

    Jinxed Moderator

    So i replaced my high pressure power steering line not long ago. heres a quick write up with pics to help others with the same task.


    Car is a auto NA for reference, but the job will be similar on a TT.


    First up, disconnect the battery. Not sure if strictly necessary for this job, but a good practice to get into when working on your zed


    Then remove drivers side intake piping, and locate the top bolt for the power steering hose on top of the pump. you can see the head of it here.
    Crack the bolt, but do not remove yet
    [​IMG]


    Jack your car up, put it nice and high and make sure to use safety stands and have a helper, just in case. Locate and remove under engine splash guard
    [​IMG]


    this is what you will see with the guard removed
    [​IMG]


    crack the fitting holding the hard line to the high pressure hose. be carefull, this will be tight, and is easily rounded. This is the fitting (looking from passenger side of car). Have a container ready to collect the power steering fluid that will start seeping out.
    [​IMG]


    undo the two brackets holding the high pressure line on. This quite fiddly, and i ended up bending my brackets to get to the bolts. I wouldnt recomend bending the brackets, as they dont bend back to original shape easily. Be patient and you small tools, ratcheting spanners are ideal.(unlike me)
    [​IMG]


    remove the top bolt on the pump you loosened earlier, then remove the whole hose. dont misplace the two crush washers that come with it. i found pushing it through from the top to come out under the car was easiest. heres a pic of my old hose versus the new one. they are slightly different shapes, which i was initially concerned about, but the new hose did fit just fine in the end.
    [​IMG]


    pic of where my hose was leaking. its the common fault, this leak is at the very top near the top fitting
    [​IMG]


    reinstallation is a reversal of the above steps, with a few key points to keep in mind.
    1) place the top bolt with its two crush washers in position first, and start the thread on the bolt but do not tighten. be sure to get the locating lug in its slot
    2) at the bottom of the car, place the flare nut fitting into the new hose, and slowly start tightening, make sure the hose is pulled right the way to the end of the hard line, or there will be movement and therefore a leak. do it up nice and tight, but again, dont round it! heres my mate Luke getting the bottom flarenut nice and tight. (thanks Luke!)
    [​IMG]


    put the brackets back together, remembering to use the rubber pieces to prevent vibration that come with the brackets. once reassemble, it will look like this, but your brackets should be less mangled than mine lol
    [​IMG]


    tighten up the top bolt, and refill with power steering fluid.
    [​IMG]


    with the car not running and the car still on stands, rotate the steering from full lock left to right to allow the fluid into the system, then check levels and repeat. then start the car, and repeat again. This is to try and bleed air out and fluid in to the new hose and rack. with the car running, this is the time to check your work for more leaks......hopefully there isnt one, if there is, recheck and tighten the culprit part


    Refit the intake piping, dont miss any vac lines and rememebr to tighten your clamps properly. Drop the car and test drive for a few minutes, then go home and check your fluids again.

    At this point your car is fixed!!!!

    Hope this helps other people considering the same job on the z32
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2015
  2. MagicMike

    MagicMike Moderator Staff Member

    Gloves! Soft!
     
  3. Jinxed

    Jinxed Moderator

    haha. it was pretty filthy under there, so i cant blame him for he gloves:cool:
     
  4. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    Jinxed where did you get the replacement high pressure hose?
    my oem hose has lots of surface bubbles and looks ready too leak.
     
  5. sandeep

    sandeep Active Member

    you can get them made at most fluid connection places (pirtek/enzed etc).
    just take your old hose off the car and take it to them and get them to copy it.

     
  6. Madcow

    Madcow Active Member

    Also just a side note. If you plan on doing this now would be the best time to consider buying the right set of spanners for the job. It will reduce the risk of rounding the nut. They are also usefuel for brake lines.
    Cheap sets from supercheap are not strong enough and will open when loaded and cause it to round. I realised this was happening and bought a new quality set.
     
  7. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

  8. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    thanks madcow my spanners should be ok i hope.
     
  9. Madcow

    Madcow Active Member

    Pirtek and enzed reuse what they can.
     
  10. Jinxed

    Jinxed Moderator

    i got mine from a local member, and the service, product and price was brilliant - highly recomend

    http://www.carcraze.com.au/

    if you buy overseas, make sure you get the correct part.

    right hand drive cars use different hoses to left hand drives in the steering
     
  11. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    thanks Jinxed i emailed carcraze but don't think they no longer sell it.
    i wouldn't get the hose from overseas i just used that link as a rebuild example.
    i got a reply from pirtek they can make one using the ends off my oem hose.
     
  12. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    ok its a old p/s high pressure hose but is it common to blister on the zed?

    [​IMG][/IMG]
    [​IMG][/IMG]
     
  13. SuperZ

    SuperZ Resident Z lunatic

    No - I don't think that's common in any oil line situation let alone a Z PS hose

    It looks like the pressure is spiking through in points due to a weak membrane.....
    As far as I know it only happens on old weak hoses, but its not that common.

    I would show Pirtek, but I would think they will just say its an old hose - but no harm in confirming

    If you can take the hose in, not only is it cheaper - but whilst pirtek can use your OEM fittings, they can also match the thread fittings and give you new ones if your prefer as well

    JC
     
  14. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    thanks SuperZ i'll confirm the cause of blistering when i take it in, i got a estimate quote of around $130 with using the oem fittings.
     
  15. Fists

    Fists Well-Known Member

    Where are you taking it? I think Enzed usually get it done for under $100.
     
  16. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    Pirtek gave that quote, there's a Enzed around the corner from Pirtek i'll go there first and see what they charge.
     
  17. SuperZ

    SuperZ Resident Z lunatic

    From memory - (its been a while) its called pin cushioning or pin prickling or something like that - not to be confused with actual pricking of the hose.

    It basically where the inner layer wire or fibres in the hose begin to push through the outer laying due to it becoming aged/ or soft.

    Glad your dealing with it and its coming out- Dangerous hoses if handled whilst under pressure or your in the vicinity and it burst through, even one small single pin hole can cause significant and horrific injuries.

    Cheers
    JC
     
  18. Fists

    Fists Well-Known Member

    Pulled out my receipt folder and I was wrong, $110 for mine at the beginning of the year so the Pirtek quote isn't that far off.
     
  19. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    no worries Fists even over $100 is a lot cheaper than a new oem hose.
     
  20. J.clark

    J.clark New Member

    That reminds of a story i heard about Forkies running there hand over the hose's feeling for leaks, i think even death can occur if reaches the blood stream...thanks! for the reminder.
     

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