Power steering lines?

[AI#97]

So who out there has successfully made their own power steering lines with braided stainless hose and -AN fittings and such?

I am about to dive off into an electric power steering setup and plan to build hoses from a combination of braided lines and custom fittings from the local hydraulic hose shop. Just want to make sure the braided stainless stuff will hold up to the pressures or if there is a specific type to use.

Gracias!

[Fbody383]

No personal experience and searched on the Russell name: http://www.russellperformance.com/mc/hose/powerflex.shtml

google says: http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/281380-how-russell-powerflex-power-flex-power-steering-hose.html

[AI#97]

I'm finding average pressure is 400psi. Even the summit braided line is rated to 1000 psi. My concern at this point is the cheapo aluminum -AN fittings. May try to find steel fittings.

[Rob Liebbe]

Hoses - Electric - I'm confused

Unless you are talking pump only.

[Pranav]

Matt,

I plumbed my entire power steering setup with all Russel stuff: regular rubber/braided hose, aluminum 6an fittings, and aluminum GM O-ring to 6AN conversion fittings. I'm on my 3rd high pressure (pump to rack) hose. #1 had a pinhole leak, #2 had some strange seepage I couldn't track down, #3 isn't leaking, but isn't going to be on the car much longer. All this trouble with a de-flowed pump AND a 10% UD crank pulley; at idle there's such little flow that turning the wheel while stopped is hard, so my line pressure is already well below normal.

Before Hallett, with the new motor, I re-plumbed my entire fuel system with the following:
Aeroquip 6an PTFE braided hose (2500psi): http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aer-fcc0606/overview/
Aeroquip 6an STEEL PTFE hose ends (90, 45, and straight):
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aer-fbm1122/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aer-fbm1103/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aer-fbm1112/overview/

The above is more or less along the same line as what Francis posted, just a different brand. This was the last thing to convert to AN on the car, and I went with a known brand, PTFE setup, seeing how much trouble I've had with the regular stuff, and not wanting to catch on fire.

I have some PTFE hose and fittings left over from the fuel line job, and intend on ripping out the problematic high pressure hose and replacing it with the good PTFE stuff. All of my other lines downstream of the rack are seeing much lower pressures, and have yet to leak, so I'll leave them as-is.

In short if I were to do AN plumbing all over, I'd do EVERYTHING in PTFE unless it is a tight bend as it is a little more prone to kinking. Soooo much easier to cut and assemble; the regular stuff require me to use Koul-Tools and more finesse (ask any girl I've dated and they'll say I have none). There's a reason why the good brake lines are PTFE...

[marshall_mosty]

I converted my rack and pump to AN fittings back in approx. '08 and haven't had any issues. It's a stock replacement pump with V6 pulley and a stock rack. Not sure what the pressures are, but have had ZERO issues with the lines.

I used Aeroquip stainless line and Russell fittings.

[GlennCMC70]

I use a Gates hose I picked up from a hydraulic supply house (Stewart Hose). It has a cloth outer jacket w/ a stainless braid under that, then a rubber liner. Its rated for hydro fluid so nothing will hurt it. I has a 1250 psi rating @ 300 degrees. I have used it on my 98 street/track car as well as the CMC car. Not one failure since it was built in 2004. I use aluminum fittings although I've been told not to. One trick w/ this hose, you gotta remove the outer cloth jacket where the AN fitting fits over it. Other than that, good stuff. Local supply. Not a bad price. Havent bought any in a while, but I like it.
The outer cloth jacket will also not saw through wiring and other stuff. Lives well in a racecar environment.

I use it for my oil cooler lines as well.

[AI#97]

I use a Gates hose I picked up from a hydraulic supply house (Stewart Hose). It has a cloth outer jacket w/ a stainless braid under that, then a rubber liner. Its rated for hydro fluid so nothing will hurt it. I has a 1250 psi rating @ 300 degrees. I have used it on my 98 street/track car as well as the CMC car. Not one failure since it was built in 2004. I use aluminum fittings although I've been told not to. One trick w/ this hose, you gotta remove the outer cloth jacket where the AN fitting fits over it. Other than that, good stuff. Local supply. Not a bad price. Havent bought any in a while, but I like it.
The outer cloth jacket will also not saw through wiring and other stuff. Lives well in a racecar environment.

I use it for my oil cooler lines as well.


Great info Glenn.

Rob the pump is from a 1996 MR2 which is stand alone electric. The cool thing will be I can have power steering while playing car Tetris in the shop and not start the motor. I am going to try this as a replacement for the stock hydroboost pump and check for steering and brake boost capability. I may need to go to manual brakes but I am holding off on that till I know it needs to be done.