Power Steering hose replacement question

Power Steering question for the FGT Smarties. My high pressure line is leaking somewhere. Should I:
1) Replace with a toyota part for $500+
2) Replace with Surong brand from Rock Auto for $140
3) Take the hose off, into a hydraulic shop & have them fix or build a new one for me?

 

I’d go with #3 if it’s an option.

 

For hoses, I usually go aftermarket. But, first make sure it is a hose leaking versus a seal, or a return line.

 

May want to read about this guys experience with aftermarket. LINK
Read on through this one. He went aftermarket and it didn't work out very well as the fittings weren't right and he had to go OEM in the end anyway. If theres some way you can confirm the threads are the same then I don't see an issue with aftermarket.

I don't have any experience taking to a hydraulic shop but that may not be a bad idea.

 

Nick said what I was gonna warn you about. Aftermarket is never correct, threading is wrong, taper is wrong, always something wrong.

I have a good hydraulic shop near me that can make anything I want, and they'd probably redo these PS hoses for half what OEM wants, or less. I was usually having them do stuff for GM stuff, though.

But yeah, try to find the leak first. I'd be surprised if it was a hole in the rubber hose, a quick hose cleaning should suss out the leak pretty quick.

 

Go #2 and just make sure it's identical when you remove the old one.

Nothing wrong with aftermarket hoses.

 

I dunno, I've already seen three people on here who borked up their stuff with aftermarket. Clearly there is a problem with aftermarket.

 

Quick update, I ended up ordering the Surong hose. I've asked this question in multiple places & have heard numerous good things about the Surong. Many saying they've done it 4+ years ago with no issues.
I did read the thread about the PS hose replacement when the aftermarket hose needed to eventually be replaced with an OEM hose after stripping / not seating well. If I recall correctly, that thread started with "I'm not very handy" or something to that effect...
I'll remove all fittings first before I start disconnecting the hose just to verify that the new fittings are exactly the same as the OEM. I'll probably keep the OEM hose around afterwards, just in case I ever need to have it rebuilt by a hydraulic shop if the aftermarket hose fails eventually...

 

Maybe I missed a thread or two, but the one I believe the bend was just slightly off causing it to want to crossthread. Slight tweak to the new line and good to go.

 

There was the cross-thread one, there was this one, and if kept digging, I could find one of the other two, but it'd take me a few minutes.

The one I linked is specifically for the Sunsong lines. The fittings appear to be different.

I wasn't kidding in my comment a few replies down from there that this was the 3rd time I've seen this when people bought aftermarket PS lines...

 

I stand corrected

 

Safe to say should stay away from Sunsong. Maybe a Gates or Edelman brand would be made right. But obviously if OEM isn't much more that would be a smarter move.

 

Hey that's me! "I'm not very handy". Stern, but true. I should probably make that my signature.

Also, my plight with the aftermarket power steering hose assembly, and failure to both install it correctly and realize it was impossible to install correctly, is fairly detailed in the aforelinked thread.

In this post:

https://www.tundras.com/posts/2539579

...I lay out the three threaded metal connections.

BEFORE YOU START RUNNING THE NEW PART THROUGH YOUR ENGINE MAKE SURE THOSE THREE CONNECTIONS MATCH THE ORIGINAL.

If that all lines up and looks like the original parts, you are good to go. I screwed my installation up, and it ended up taking way too much time and money, but if you check those three connections and they match, this is pretty simple installation, apart from snaking a bunch of hoses through the engine bay.

 

Quick update on this:
I ended up ordering the Sunsong power steering hose.
The first fittings I took off were the ones on the Rack as these were the fittings that were questionable earlier in this thread.
I checked them with a dial caliper before I took everything apart and sure enough, they were the correct size. Everything fit together just fine. About my only "complaint" with the Sunsong hose is that I had to loosen a few of the brackets & slightingly reposition them in order to line up properly.
All in all, everything went pretty smooth & easy. I've heard from many others that these Sunsong hoses have lasted many years so I'll hope that is what I experience...
I bled filled the PS reservoir back up slowly & bled the system but I still have a slight whine at low / mid rpm's. Any idea what would cause this or will it resolve itself?

 

So, just to confirm, you had a good experience with Sunsong? This is good news, if so.

As far as the PS moan, I and many others have complained about this. I think we all have it to some degree. Even my low mileage bucket has it.

 

Yes, I'd say for the price difference I was definitely happy with the sunsong. I asked for experiences both on here and on a FGT Facebook group. A handful of people responded on the FB group that they have had the Sunsong replacement hoses installed for a number of years with no troubles. I couldn't see any quality issues & it didn't appear that they were made inferior in any way.

I've always had slight PS moaning, but it was more pronounced after replacing the hoses. We'll see if it gets better. I've bled & filled the system completely. There are no signs of air bubbles in the reservoir..

 

Thanks so much for this write up. I’ve been searching like crazy, and this is the closest thread I can find that might help me.

I parked today and found PS fluid all over the ground. I searched and realized that my PS return line has a pin hole in it from rust. I’m thinking of just replacing both the pressure and return lines. However, Toyota wants $850 and there are none in the US. So it’s like a month wait.

I went on RockAuto and the choices are seemingly endless, due to the different options. I have a 2004 DC 4x4 with towing package. Wondering if you have the same? I’ll post a screenshot below of the options. Some of them say “with crew cab”, but don’t specify towing package, etc. While other brands seem to indicate that the towing package matters. I’m really at a loss and hope someone here can help.

For the return line, I’m half-tempted to just cut the line about 4” from the rack and clamp a 3/8” rubber line as the replacement. I don’t mind spending a few $$ to do it right, but I hear it’s pretty difficult to do a return with RockAuto. For the pressure line, it’s the same issue. Except I don’t have the leisure of a rubber hose as the fix.

Any help from the think tank here would be HUGELY appreciated. I love my truck, but more importantly, I really need it for work.

 

I'm a big fan of Gates, but your best bet with RockAuto usually is to get the OEM part number which you KNOW is a replacement, plug that in at RockAuto's search box, inspect the parts in the list to ensure the bends/turns look similar to yours before purchasing.

I have a couple of tubing benders from making hard gas and brake lines when doing LS swaps, which makes it easier to adapt lines if they're not 100% so as long as I'm ballpark and threads match I'm good. But honestly, anything you find on RockAuto that's not Denso/Aisin, like stuff made by Gates and Sunsong, you may actually be able to find at your LAPS, which would make returns a hell of a lot easier...

 

Thank you. Sorry my account didn’t notify me of a response.

I did what you said, searching the OEM part in RockAuto. It came up with the part the OP used. However, it’s date specific. It says it’s only for trucks after 4/1/2004. Mine is earlier. (By the way, this is the set of pressure and return lines). There is another Sunsong kit that seems to be for trucks up to 3/31/2004. Seems like that might be the way to go.

The other confusing part is in the descriptions, it says for Crew Cab, OR 4x4 regular cab. It never specifies the drivetrain on any of the Crew Cabs. So I guess it’s safe to assume that when it’s the double cab, both 2 and 4 wheel drive models apply?

I’m going to visit the dealer tomorrow and try to discern what changed. I can’t believe all the different options and how many variables come into play.

 

That’s exactly what I did and it’s been working for a couple years now. I have two hose clamps to secure it to the cut return hardline and running straight to the reservoir.

 

Today I tried unsuccessfully to have a 20O5 4.7L's PS pressure hose rebuilt by a shop that has done similar work for me. The tech said he thinks the "fitting" in the hydraulic hose run is a flow restrictor, which he could not reuse, and doesn't have available new.

He believes that without such a restrictor, the system would be overboosted and "jumpy".

His point makes sense because the "fitting" is clearly not a hose junction. I initially thought it was just there to prevent abrasion since whatever it is, it lives pretty close the body, but I can't recall Toyota using anything but some sort of sheathing as protection.

Does anyone have first-hand experience with a pressure hose that's been rebuilt with hose only? Did it work?

 

Very good question. I recall at least a member or two here commenting they did that but didn't give any follow up or mention a flow restrictor being necessary.

 

I don't know how I missed this thread. Those are the same hoses I got last year after Panhandlemonium. I would recommend them.

 

My 2001 Gen 1 needs the the smaller power steering reservoir hose which connects the reservoir and snakes down to the rack. I believe the smaller ID hose is the return line? I will tag onto this thread.

I used the Toyota parts fische & VIN but there are several Power Steering reservoir versions with different reservoir outlet port orientations? I am referring to Top Rt corner, REFER TO FIG 45-02. This one below looks the closest to mine. Looks like 44417 which has spring loaded clamps attaches to the smaller reservoir port. Of course I cannot buy just 44417.


Here are pictures of the PS hose in question.


Any suggestions for the smaller hose which has the additional hose clamp. Hoping someone has already found a hose which works. This second picture
shows 2 90 degree bends in the smaller hose.

Thanks for the help.

 

Try using this parts system in the bulleted section of this post instead, it should be more-VIN-specific: https://www.tundras.com/threads/howto-use-the-toyota-parts-system-to-find-order-parts.113808/

 

I had same issue and researched extensively. Toyota does not sell just that hose. You have to buy the entire assembly with hardline to the tune of $500. I also could not find at any of the hose suppliers, FLAPS or online. Ended up getting the assembly from Rock Auto for like $100 and only using the rubber part. Recommend using the OEM spring clamp as it has better clamping power than the screw clamps.
Here’s a pic

 

VIN specific & very helpful. The larger reservoir/pump pressure hose is 44348A in the fiche

P/N 44348-0C010 01 02.1999 - 08.2002 HOSE, OIL RESERVOIR TO PUMP, NO.1 UCK30,40 and lists for $32.89 USD.
The smaller ID hose is not listed individually as mentioned by bfunke.

I appreciate the fast replies shifty & bfunke. Thank you!

Last thought before another Rock Auto order. Wonder if Autozone, Checkers would let me visually check in house stock? Probably first thing in the AM but it could fruitless effort.

 

I replaced my PS return hose with a 3/8” ID pneumatic hose in its place. You really have to work it to get the hose end on the plastic nub of the reservoir but it will go on. The return hardline I cut after the corrosion and used two hose clamps to hold the rubber hose end onto it. No issues for 2+ years so far. Hose is still tight.

 

Last week I replaced the original power steering reservoir return line with a 3/8" ID section of SAE J2076 3/8" ID High-Temperature Power Steering Return Hose - Low Pressure which I purchased from Advanced Auto Parts for $6. The 3/8" ID is slightly smaller as Jack McCarthy mentioned but it will work. The SAE J2076 3/8" OD is 17mm vs the original OD which measured 18mm.

https://www.sae.org/standards/content/j2076_201207/

I am keeping the original power steering reservoir return line in the truck just in case. I reused the OEM spring clamps. So far so good.

Thanks for advice!