Power Steering Hoses

[Joe L.]

A recent thread concerning power steering hoses inspired me to post a little additional information regarding same.

Original power steering hoses had a long, single crimp of unique configuration. These hoses were also sold in SERVICE through the GM parts system for many years. No aftermarket hoses, including AC Delco hoses, were of the same quality and none used the same style crimp. In later SERVICE the finish changed to chromate overplate (gold) instead of the original bare zinc/cadmium. The return hose also changed to a double crimp. The chromate overplate can rather easily be removed from later SERVICE hoses if the original finish is desired

Attached are photos of an original GM #3878886 pressure hose [not for sale]. This one has the original zinc/cadmium finish on the fittings. This hose was used for all 1965-74 Corvette big blocks for the pressure hose and is the only hose I know of which is correct for those applications. The extend, retract, and return hoses were used for both big blocks and small blocks. Those hoses have fitting crimps identical to the hose pictured.

[Edward D.]

Re: Power Steering Hoses

Very nice Joe. Do you also have a return hose p/n 3826278 you could share a pic of?

[Joe L.]

Re: Power Steering Hoses

Very nice Joe. Do you also have a return hose p/n 3826278 you could share a pic of?

Edward------

Yes, I have several of these [none for sale]. However, all of the ones I have are of the "triple crimp" type and are really very similar to the aftermarket variety. However, I believe that the originals were of the same single wide crimp configuration as the other hoses all evidenced until the very end of their availability. Some of the return hoses I have I purchased more than 25 years ago so the change occurred at least that far back. All of the other hoses available from GM had the single wide crimp fittings throughout their use in PRODUCTION and right up until the end of their availability in SERVICE about 10 years ago (I have several of each purchased at different times over the years, including just before their discontinuation [none for sale]).

I believe that all of the Corvette power steering hoses were manufactured internally by the Saginaw Division of GM. At some point, though, and for unknown reasons, Saginaw (or, GMSPO) apparently outsourced the manufacture of the return hose. To be honest, this return hose feels "cheaply made" compared to the other GM hoses.