Power Steering Hoses
 

Well, my power steering unit went and took my alternator with it.

Got in the car to head out to Rio Puerco today, and battery light was on. Stopped at AZ and they confirmed alternator was bad. Got home and got to looking, and found some fluid covering everything. Initially thought it was valve gasket, until I realized it was all coming from the PS pump. This was further confirmed by the fact that there was no fluid in the PS reservoir :ybrick:

Anyway, Rockauto recommends potentially replacing Power Steering Pressure hose and power steering return hoses when you do the pump. Anybody else do the other hoses? Or is that overkill? There are two different return hoses so replacing all the hoses would be more than the stinking pump lol.

Any recommendations on pump brands?

My original pump (500,000 miles on it) started whining. I pulled a used one off a GX470 for $30 and threw it in. I replaced only the low pressure hose from the reservoir to the pump since it was cracking. I looked at the other hoses and decided against replacing them all due to how crazy expensive they all are.

Been driving it like this for over a month with no issues. I used OEM Toyota ATF.

I'll probably grab a reman unit for the pump, but other than that I think this is the approach I'm taking. The high pressure line looked solid all told, and also looks like a pain to replace, so I'll stick with the ones that look more like they need it.

I replaced all the low pressure return line rubber hoses using 3/8" fuel line. All the stock lines were hard as a rock. Toyota doesn't sell just those rubber lines separately but all my metal lines were good. The only Toyota hose that I used was from the reservoir to the pump, the big hose. It was also solid as a rock with just under 300k miles on it.

recently had a new rack put in and saw the same warning on rockauto. picked up a high pressure hose (got the cheapest one) and lucky i did - the original high pressure hose was seized on the rack. when i had the pump replaced last year i didn't need to replace any of the hoses. i'll try and proactively replace related parts of they are cheap enough when i'm getting work done.

Why'd you get that one from Toyota? NAPA not sell that size? Or did you think the bend was important?

The bends that are molded into the hose. It's also kind of an odd size.

The return lines don't have the same issue. 3/8" hose is a hair big but it works. Just make sure the hose clamps are tight.

Replacing all the PS hose would also be a good time to add a new, larger trans cooler and make the old, smaller OEM trans cooler into the PS cooler like I did. Also a good time to install inline filters for both.

I use these (although I still haven't installed the ones I have onto the 4Runner): Amazon.com: Magnefine 3/8" Magnetic Inline Transmission/Power Steering Filter: Automotive

just an FYI on the fluid... toyota ATF is either T-IV or WS, not the recommended dex3 for power steering. im sure it will work ok since its just hydraulic fluid, but toyota ATF is not what the P/S calls for.

Toyota Manual says ATF Dex II or III.