Guys - I replaced the high pressure hose last year. Have another leak; think it is the low pressure hose. The car is in another location now so I cannot take a look. Can someone tell me where the other end of the low pressure hose goes? Does it just attach with a hose clamp? Is it hard to access?

Looked in the CD manual that I got from a forum member but cannot see it.

As I remember the front of the low pressure hose just goes on the power steering pump with a clamp.

Thx.

I think the low pressure hose has a clamp at the pump and screws into the steering box.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Thx. Guess I will find out tomorrow. Peachparts sold me the hoses as I remember. One had fittings on both ends (assume it was the high pressure hose) but the other was just a flex hose without fittings. I looked at Pep Boys tonight and it says it (low pressure hose) is sold by the yard so probably without fittings. Will look tomorrow and post what I find.

Yes, clamped on slip fit. Factory clamps require #2 Phillips, aftermarket clamps use straight blade or 1/4". Use factory clamps first, fuel injection style second, worm gear band type third.

Take a stubby #2 Phillips, a regular length #2 Phillips and a short #2 bit that can go into a 1/4" drive socket.

Good luck!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Well, job complications today. Will have to do it later.

Thanks for the feedback.

Resolution: Finally got around to looking at the low pressure hose and it was not leaking. Not knowing what to do I just kinda looked around the power steering pump and found the front passenger side bolt was loose. I touched the nut and actually pushed the bolt back in.

I tightened it with a 13mm (I think) open end and waited. Has been a couple of days now and I have been driving it. So far I do not think it is leaking.

Wondering why the low pressure hose is not engineered like the high pressure. The low pressure hose is just a length of rubber hose with removable clamps between two metal pipes. But you have to replace the entire contraption for high pressure; the rubber hose is permanently clamped. I had a hard time finagling the flanged end into the PS pump when I replaced the high pressure hose and it leaked several times before I got it right. Maybe those clamps will just not hold under high pressure.

I do not know the relief valve pressure release on a power steering system. Yet simple clamps would be questionable to me. On the high pressure line.


Hoses can and have blown off on just 60 pounds pressure lines. With simple clamps.

Hose clamps will not withstand the high pressure side.

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Yep, much as I had suspected.

Thx. Keeping my fingers crossed that this solved the mysterious leak problem with the power steering.

I think you are over thinking it. The Low Pressure Hose is called that because the pressure it deals with is low and hence the name. Maybe the best clue is that the low pressure hose is on the suction side of the power steering pump.

Be glad the did it they way they did because the low pressure/suction hose is cheaper and easier to find then the High Pressure Hose.
Also the low pressure hose is just not a rubber hose it is made to resist the deterioration and heat of the fluid that goes through it. As an example if you used the same sized fuel hose it will not last as long if you use it as power steering return hose.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Agree. I did use the real return hose instead of something cheaper. And it was not very expensive.

Need to drive some more to see if the leak has stopped. Life getting in the way of doing things I would like to do.

Still very slow leak. Looking at the rebuild kit with seals.

How do I determine if I have a Vickers or a ZF pump?

Also how hard to replace front seal? Not sure it is leaking.

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diy-links-parts-category/

From what I have read there is some variation in the seals used. You pretty much need to see the seal you have and know the shaft size.
If you are lucky the number on the seal will be visible. Look for the number before you use any methods to remove the seals.

Please note I have never done this job and am speaking from what I remember reading about it and that was like 10 years ago.

If I recall correctly the rebuild kit comes without the seal that can vary. You need to order that seal seperatly.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks for that. Great reminder about the stickies; lots of good info there.

I looked at my power steering pump today there is a plate that can be viewd from the left side that clearly has Vickers on it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel