Hi All,

Lately I've noticed I'm losing power steering fluid at the rate of about 2 ounces or so every 500 miles. I topped it up a couple times and I'm definitely losing it. Well, I checked it all over and the steering box and pump are dry so they seem ok. Digging a little further I found one of the hoses (I'm assuming it is the low pressure return hose) swollen and very spongy right where it connects to the fitting the attaches to the steering box.

My question is this. How can I tell if it is the low pressure or high pressure hose? One of the hoses has swedged fittings on each end just like the oil cooler hoses, so I am assuming this is the high pressure hose. The other hose (the one that is spongy/swollen) connects to the fittings with common hose clamps so I'm assuming it is the low pressure return hose.

I could not get a good picture of where the hose is bad down by the steering box, so I attached one that shows the two different types of hose at the power steering pump. The fittings at the pump are wet as I just took them off and re-tightened them but did not dry them before I took the photo. Like I said the one with the hose clamps on both ends is bad, not the swedged fitting hose.

Any help appreciated, Thanks

Attached Thumbnails

 

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

You’ve identified them correctly. Now it’s time for new rubber.
The low pressure hose is the cheapest and easiest. I’d start there.

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1981 240D 4sp manual. Ivory White.

Sounds good! Thanks for the confirmation......gonna order low pressure hose right now.

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2012 Mercedes ML350 Bluetec 91K (hers)
2005 Corvette 55K (fun car)
2002 VW Jetta TDI 231K (mine)
1998 Volvo S70 T5 Turbo 196K (kids)
1994 Ford F150 4WD 249K (firewood hauler)
1983 Mercedes 300D 376K (diesel commuter)

Just recently replaced a low-pressure hose myself.
Size is 1/2 or 12mm. Auto Zone had them. They have assortments in the back you can cut up I got a meter for $6

You didn't state your car, but looks like my W123. Search for my post on p.s. hoses where I gave hose PN's that work, for just the rubber. The high-pressure hose is not crimped fittings, rather Gates "field-replaceable". I show how to re-hose them. Need 1000+ psig rated hydraulic hose.

Be sure you get power steering hose or transmission cooler hose for the return line.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

https://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/349815-power-steering-hose-replacement-w123.html