Changing Power Steering Lines DIY
 

Hi all. Is there a DIY manual on how to change out the power steering fluid lines? My lines came out of the slip in bracket and melted away from the headers causing fire that burnt up my lines and heavy smoke afterwards. I looked at the lines but wanted to find out the easiest way to change this line. I have the line already.. just need some tips.

Thanks

Which parts of the lines are you talking about?

The rear part of the lines which goes from engine to underneath the car to the connectors below the car (driver seat area), I would expect so if you burned them?

If yes - you will have to open the maintenance area lids both on top of the engine as well as behind the drivers seat (have to take off the driver's seat as well), and at minimum you'll have to remove the aircon compressor and move it inside the passenger cabin (don't disconnect the lines, though).

I suppose in order to get access you'll at least have to remove the front middle hose of the intake system, since the compressor for the steering sits underneath. In any case you'll need small hands and fingers.. it's a pain with engine inside the car..

Pressure line needs to be loosened with a wrench or crawfoot, return line carefully removed (pulled out, see Wayne's 3.6 conversion article, there's some hint on the return line removal). If you don't take care on the return line removal (like me) you'll need a new one,... I damaged the area which seals the connection

Loosening and reconnection the connectors each beneath the car is fairly simple.

I performed it already. I unbolted the a/c compressor and lifted just a bit for the lines to sneak thru.. and replace. Thanks

I talk about this in my article here: Pelican Technical Article: Boxster Engine Conversion Project - 986 Boxster (1997-04) - 987 Boxster (2005-08)

-Wayne

This is the worst project (by far) that I've attempted. The PS should be called the "POS" line. Wayne's DIY isn't terribly helpful for those of us with no need (and with inadequate facilities) to remove the motor. I'm moments away from labeling all my parts and calling to get towed to my local shop.

I've done full suspension rebuilds, inner tie rods, and full exhaust on the 986, and have rebuilt axles, and lots of other fairly involved DIY projects on my vehicles through the years but this task seems like an impossibility.

I can't get the hose properly in place under the A/C compressor. I pulled the three bolts for the compressor and pulled it forward (keeping lines attached) and was able to get the line roughly in place, but now I'm 100% stuck and extremely frustrated with this project. I've been at it for around 5 hours today. Freaking nightmare. I hope to never have to do anything like this again. In fact, it's generally ruining me for any further attempts to do anything in this tiny midengine compartment.