Which hose most common for PS leak?

[DannoXYZ]

Is there a pattern with the leaky power-steering hoses?
Does the high-pressure hose leak more often than the other?
Or should I just replace them both?

thx

[thomasryan]

Clean it up and just fix the leaks. You may just need copper washers.

Arnworx makes a replacement hose for the cooler return so you don't have to buy the whole assembly. That was my main offender....

[DannoXYZ]

Thanks, I'll hose everything off and see where it's coming from. I remember Laust mentioning it was the high-pressure hose on his car.

[thomasryan]

The reservoir actually has an internal filter and should be swapped out. ZF is OE.

Febi still produces dino ATF. Synthetic or 'power steering fluid' is going to leak.

The smallest of leaks will coat everything and soften every piece of rubber.......nasty.

[djnolan]

My PS list for my 87S (if you don't want to ever see another drop of ps fluid on your garage floor)

Replacement rack - seals leaking
replacement pressure line
replace all other lines using stock atf line (instead of buying new cooling loop, etc)
replace reservoir
reseal pump - kit available
replace copper washers
clamps - barrel clamps, or use hd spring clamps scavenged from other cars

[Jfrahm]

Both lines to the reservoir are low pressure and I would at least replace both of those if they are old. A leak there ruins the bushings on the front suspension and that's an expensive pain to fix up. It's worth getting the molded hose with the bellmouth which I think is the (suction) supply line to the pump.

The rubber line from the cooler (return to res) can be cut off and replaced but it would be more elegant to find a 90 degree molded hose for this rather than bulk hose. There are a lot of inexpensive ATF lines for other cars that could probably be modded to fit. The whole cooler and return rubber lines assembly is $150 or so. I have not needed to replace the rubber line to the cooler. Unicoil hose bending springs help but if I do this again I'd like some proper molded lines.

A stock line for another car, something like a Dorman 979-011 might have some useful bends if it's the right diameter.

I have not needed to replace the big scary 1500+ PSI rack lines. I have replaced the copper sealing rings on those however, which is a good idea if you are in there.

The reservoir, same as an E30 BMW I believe, is pretty cheap but I have rinsed them with alcohol (off the car) and not felt that they needed to be replaced but maybe so if your rack is really wasted, has torn boots or a missing equalizer, etc. and thus has ingested a lot of dirt.

On that subject, replace those boots and equalizer hose if missing or in bad shape. Birthing the steering rack is not a fun job so you want to keep yours healthy.

Going father afield, the Rennbay PS pump reseal kit is great and cheap enough to buy to keep handy for whenever you might find you are close to pulling out that PS pump, like when you are pulling the reservoir, replacing lines, seals, etc. I bought an extra kit as I am sure I'll need it, or maybe someone I know in the area will need one on very short notice.

-Joel.