Power steering/hydro boost hose options.

[Truckman4life]

I will be replacing my steering stuff soon. New pump/hoses/and gear. I have an '83 K5 with 6.2L diesel and hydro boost. Should I just do Napa replacement hoses from pump to booster to gear back to pump or go through the effort to get adapter fittings and run AN style hyd hoses to everything(probably the DIY style ends with cut to length hose).

 

[obijuank5]

Is it the type of rig that needs to be field serviceable or anything? If not oe replacement type are not bad.

 

[Truckman4life]

Is it the type of rig that needs to be field serviceable or anything? If not oe replacement type are not bad.

No not especially. I was just thinking they are nicer and look better than OE style hoses. Pretty sure it's still got the original ones on it now.

 

[diesel4me]

My theory is if the originals lasted 34 years,they cant be that bad..
The P/S hoses on both my '82 K2500 and '85 Suburban with 6.2 & hydroboost are all originals..might be "due" soon due to rust on the metal portion of the lines,and a slight weep at the crimp on one high pressure line on my pickup has been that way since I owned it (2003)-but the rubber part still looks fine..

 

[blazinzuk]

I looked at doing AN it was pretty spendy once you get all the adapters and such.

 

[mrk5]

I've only run the reusable hose ends on the ram assist side of the system. I use the factory type hoses for the pump to hydroboost and hydroboost to steering gear. I seem to have trouble with the AN fittings in the steering system leaking. Not like full on dripping leaks but they are always wet, even the low pressure side on the returns to the reservoir. I just bought a new pump can from PSC with the AN fitting for the reservoir connection and it's leaking for some reason.

The AN fittings on my air lines and fuel lines all seem to be just fine, it's only the steering stuff.

 

[diesel4me]

Back when I worked at a parts store that also made and sold custom hydraulic hoses,I recall making a P/S pressure hose for a customer;s race car,and he noted the fittings always "weeped",but not at the crimp,just the threaded area..
It was later determined his oem hoses had typical SAE flare fittings with 45 degree flares,but our hydraulic hose fittings we used that matched the bends best had 37 degree flares,but the same threads..
That'll do it....he ran them anyway though,said it did not lose hardly any fluid over a several month period..

 

[Truckman4life]

Yeah sounds like OEM replacement would be cheapest and best option for this rig. I was always told that the more connections you have the more leaks you can have so adding in the adapter just adds more leakage points. OEM hoses are pretty cheap too.

 

[diesel4me]

As I've aged I have realized a lot of the fancy "hot rod" stuff just isn't that great or a must have...a lot of it is just a waste of money,and not needed on a street driven or lightly off road used vehicle...
The factory did a lot of research and testing back in the day,on proving grounds,and they actually torture tested vehicles to the breaking point,and fixed whatever was going to be a potential failure...before they would even sell a vehicle to the public..

Nowadays they don't,they just build them and let US be the ones to find out what wasn't beefy enough....

Stock hoses are ok in my opinion,but beware of cheap brands made in china,I'd try to get Gates,Edelman,Moog,or Omega hoses...(though today they all might be made in china ?)..

 

[Ned Kelly]

Or take your hoses to a hydraulic shop and they can use your original ends and install new hose.
Get quality USA made hose as others suggest.
I have seen offshore hose material deteriorate quicker than good name brand hose.
I had my ps hoses redone this way, factory GM ps fittings and 25yrs later the Gates hose is still good.

Parts store stuff is usually offshore China and such. I have seen these deteriorate after a year or two on other peoples cars and trucks. Not always, but I have seen it. Sometimes they last longer, but I doubt you'll get 25yrs out of those offshore parts.

 

[Bent77]

I've only run the reusable hose ends on the ram assist side of the system. I use the factory type hoses for the pump to hydroboost and hydroboost to steering gear. I seem to have trouble with the AN fittings in the steering system leaking. Not like full on dripping leaks but they are always wet, even the low pressure side on the returns to the reservoir. I just bought a new pump can from PSC with the AN fitting for the reservoir connection and it's leaking for some reason.

The AN fittings on my air lines and fuel lines all seem to be just fine, it's only the steering stuff.

Did you happen to get JIC instead of AN?

 

[mrk5]

I bought everything from PSC on the ram side so they should match. There could be some discrepancy on the reservoir fittings. There are some different brands.