Serviceability of original 285,000 mile power steering hose ?

[BuffaloBass]

Folks, I am in the midst of restoring a 99 4X4. 285,000 mile UT truck.

While the powertrain is removed, i'd like to address a few things ( upper control arm bushings for one), and am looking at the original PS hose thinking it may be serviceable, but...?

Anyone have any data to share on that? They good for 400K miles and 30 years, or is 25 yrs and 285K near limit? I see an oem replacement still listed , but dang it aint cheap. I think the remain rack and pinion i've found installed in this truck may have cost less!

Most of the work in the engine bay is needle scaling, scraping and rust proofing, but the front suspension should be tackled now as well.

The $400 PS hose is my question. I doesnt look that bad to R&R on a lift, but...should I 'JUST DO IT" now when I can sit my arse on the front axle ?

THNX.

Anything else I ought be looking at while the engine/trans is out?

 

[Devbot]

When I replaced my steering rack I picked up a new sending line from Autozone for like $100. Can't remember exactly how much it was but certainly wasn't an arm and a leg. If I remember right the only reason I had to get a new one was because the original one was bent and bound up at the steering rack side so when it threaded in to the new rack it was pointing the clear opposite direction. Otherwise I would've just reused it and I was at 300k miles - if there's no cracks and it's still nice and pliable I don't see why not.
All they are is tubing with some fittings, I don't see much reason to spend a bunch for OEM.

 

[4x3Lander]

Folks, I am in the midst of restoring a 99 4X4. 285,000 mile UT truck.

While the powertrain is removed, i'd like to address a few things ( upper control arm bushings for one), and am looking at the original PS hose thinking it may be serviceable, but...?

Anyone have any data to share on that? They good for 400K miles and 30 years, or is 25 yrs and 285K near limit? I see an oem replacement still listed , but dang it aint cheap. I think the remain rack and pinion i've found installed in this truck may have cost less!

Most of the work in the engine bay is needle scaling, scraping and rust proofing, but the front suspension should be tackled now as well.

The $400 PS hose is my question. I doesnt look that bad to R&R on a lift, but...should I 'JUST DO IT" now when I can sit my arse on the front axle ?

THNX.

Anything else I ought be looking at while the engine/trans is out?

I completely removed all of my front end a couple of years ago and overhauled all of it. Even with the suspension completely out of the way, getting the power steering lines off the rack was such a pain (for me). The two flare fittings on the driver side area wouldn't budge no matter how long they were soaked, torched, etc. So I just cut the lines and replaced the entire assembly.

Like you, I wanted OEM as I am pretty strict to adhere to OEM, however, the price was just way too high for a vehicle I drive occasionally. SO, I bought these from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Power-Steering-Hose-Assembly-Compatible/dp/B08FJGSZRP) and have never had a problem.

While you are at it, you should also clean out the power steering resevoir, as instructed in Timmy's video (Power Steering Flush and Reservoir Cleaning - YouTube). My screen was about 35-40% covered, so I was able to easily removed all the crap because of Timmy's video.

 

[BuffaloBass]

Thnx!!

thanks folks! I dialed up napaonline and saw those hoses. Hey for $ 100, the high pressure line is history, i'll slice the thing and use a socket not a line wrench to remove. Was also considering buying the PS pump rebuilt kit as the alt and starter are being rebuilt as well.

Hey man, this is my "retirement vehicle". Unlike all the stuff I look at now for 60K+ new , the 99 doesn't have a large screen display. :wacko: Only hope the "taco toyo" reman 5VZ is a runner.

"KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND EYES UP ON THE ROAD" Yes, indeed! Maybe I am the whacko, don't want no damned screen distracting me, after shelling out 65k. Sheesh. My eyes aren't getting better at almost 63 years, so if it doesnt drive itself, stick that big screen in the TRUNK! Blind leading the blind seems a common machine-driven modern paradigm.

.....the restoration continues......upper A arm removal to restore those babies to mint is next.....new upper bushings while engine is out.