Correct Power Steering hoses

[Keith M.]

Looked around usual places and cannot seem to find "correct" power steering hoses...crimp is stated to be "different". I usually check Doc for rubber stuff but did not find any there. Does anyone make/sell these anymore? Not 100% sure mine are problematic...or even original for that matter. As far as I can tell these are not a judged item? Kinda like brake hoses not judged due to safety concerns? Anywho...got the PS pump out and trying to assess what to do about the hoses. Gonna have the PS valve rebuilt. Not sure these hoses were leaking when last ran the car. But there is so much fluid and grease in this area hard to tell. Thanks in advance for any direction and guidance.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Correct Power Steering hoses

I assUme this is for a 1969? It helps to state that or use the 68/69 tag on the post.

The short answer is that no, no one makes single-crimp hoses anymore. They are all double crimp.
What's even worse is that half of the ones you buy don't fit well. Do not be surprised if you buy from more than one vendor to get some that will be shaped correctly, and you still have to tweak the bends on them.

[Joe L.]

Re: Correct Power Steering hoses

Looked around usual places and cannot seem to find "correct" power steering hoses...crimp is stated to be "different". I usually check Doc for rubber stuff but did not find any there. Does anyone make/sell these anymore? Not 100% sure mine are problematic...or even original for that matter. As far as I can tell these are not a judged item? Kinda like brake hoses not judged due to safety concerns? Anywho...got the PS pump out and trying to assess what to do about the hoses. Gonna have the PS valve rebuilt. Not sure these hoses were leaking when last ran the car. But there is so much fluid and grease in this area hard to tell. Thanks in advance for any direction and guidance.

Keith------


Some photos of NOS P/S hoses [none for sale]:


1963-74 small block pressure hose. This hose is identical to that used in PRODUCTION and once available in SERVICE GM #3826277. It is of the original configuration and part number:

DSCN4148.jpgDSCN4147.jpg


1963-74 cylinder retract hose for both SB and BB. GM #3826276. This hose is identical to the hose used in PRODUCTION and once available in SERVICE. It is of the original configuration and part number.

DSCN4150.jpgDSCN4149.jpg

1963-74 cylinder extend hose for both SB and BB. GM #3826275. This hose is identical to the hose used in PRODUCTION and once available in SERVICE. It is of the original configuration and part number.

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1965-74 big block pressure hose. GM #387886. This hose is identical to the original hose used in PRODUCTION and once available in SERVICE. It is of the original configuration and part number.

DSCN4154.jpgDSCN4153.jpg

1963-74 SB and BB return hose. GM #3826278. This hose is of the original PRODUCTION and SERVICE part number but it is not entirely of the original configuration. The crimp style of the fitting is different. In 40+ years of looking I've never found a return hose of the original crimp style.

DSCN4156.jpgDSCN4155.jpgDSCN4157.jpg


All of the above referenced hoses were discontinued 20-25 years ago. I believe the reason they lasted that long in SERVICE is because they did not sell very well. Why. Well, with the exception of the return hose, all the other hoses carried a GM list price of about 5 times what aftermarket replacements cost. The return hose was competitive with the aftermarket hose and that may be why the original configuration hose sold out more quickly. With the exception of the return hose, I believe that all of the others were actually manufactured in-house by Saginaw Division .

[Keith M.]

Re: Correct Power Steering hoses

Thanks all. I think my initial game plan is clean up what is on there and hope for the best whilst putting the unobtanium NOS hoses on my watch list. If it leaks..a pain to drain and replace hoses with repo or whatever...but not the end of the world. I got plenty of other fish to fry if I wanna drive this puppy this summer.