How to Install a New Power Steering Hose

How to Install a New Power Steering Hose

How to Install a New Power Steering Hose

Have you ever tried to turn a steering wheel without power steering? It's pretty tough; your grand father could probably elaborate, but just take my word for it. The power steering hose delivers power steering fluid to the gears that allow you to steer your vehicle. Over time, the hose can rot or become damaged by temperature, inactivity or clogged with debris. If your wheel becomes exceeding difficult to turn, or even jerky, not allowing you to make smooth turns, you're power steering hose probably needs to be replaced. Suddenly losing power steering capabilities can present certain safety concerns when traveling at high speeds; so always check your hose and fluid for proper maintenance to avoid a potential roadside emergency. This procedure can be done by the owner and doesn't require you to call a mechanic.

To perform this bit of maintenance yourself, you're going to need:

A new power steering hose

A wrench

A drain pan

Rags

Degreaser

Spray on lubricant

Power steering fluid

Power steering hoses are rated and sized specific to the vehicle that they'll fit. Check your owner's manual for the proper model number and size of hose that you'll need. Or you can go to your local auto parts store and give them the make and model of your vehicle and they'll give you the correct hose.

The first thing you need to do is to locate your old power steering hose. Open the hood of your vehicle and locate the steering box. The owner's manual can aid you in finding it. It's usually located near the fender on the left side of the engine. It has threaded fittings and it's dark and braided. The other hoses in your engine are black and smooth, so it shouldn't be too difficult to discern between them.

Once you've located the hose, place the drain pan directly underneath it to catch excess fluid when you remove the hose. Locate the bolts that connect the hose to the valves. Use a rag with degreaser to clean the bolts and make it easier to remove. Now, use your wrench to remove the bolts. You may have to use the degreaser and lubricant in tandem to remove the bolts as they can become inundated with dirt and be very difficult to remove. Once the top of the hose is off, locate the other end of the hose underneath the left wheel well and follow the same process for removing it.

Now that the hose has been completely removed, take a moment and clean the valves that you'll fit the new hose to. Removing this excess dirt and oil will allow for a better fit of the hose and make sure that you don't have to replace this hose as quickly due to clogging. Attach one end of the hose to the valve and tighten the bolts and fittings in place. Make sure they are on as securely as possible. Repeat this process at the other end of the hose.

Now, locate the power steering reservoir with your owner's manual. Fill the reservoir with the new power steering fluid until you've reached the "cold level". Start your car and give the wheel a few turns to make sure that the fluid is working its way through the system and bleed the air out of the system. While the car is running, look underneath for leaks. If you find you're leaking fluid, turn off your car and tighten the fittings again. If you're all clear, go ahead and fill the power steering reservoir with the fluid. Close the cap and the hood and take the car for a spin to help the fluid circulate.

Driving a car without power steering can be very difficult. If you lose power steering suddenly while driving, you should pull to the side of the road and check it out. If you can't take care of the problem yourself then and there, you may consider calling a tow truck to move you to a safe location so that you can deal with the problem.

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