My power steering lines are leaking around the high pressure crimp fitting, apparently I pulled on it to hard on the last engine install

my question is what all do I need to go about plumbing in a new one with new lines.........what fitting and is there a specific hose I should look at? Seems like it would be a good time to put in a cooler as well. How would you go about routing the lines and keeping there?
Any hints tips or tricks you guys have learned from doing it would be appreciated, thanks




94 firebird, w/ a 97 LT1 M6

I don't have the place here, but adapt them to -AN and run a good Earls cooler (or equivilant)

Here's a pic from the GM manual with notes I wrote for myself:

http://www.z28racergirl.com/images/29work/...systemnores.jpg

I have since changed my mind, and am planning to redo the whole kit and kaboodle.

If part # 30 from the above pic is missing, this is the perfect time to buy a GM p/s fitting from Capital Motorsports and plumb in a p/s cooler. I plumbed it in front of the radiator, but you might not have room there if the car still has all that stock junk from the factory.

If it is part number 33, the return line from the pump, I'd suggest getting someone to repair it or buying a replacement from GM.

I've almost got the parts list composed to replace the entire system, but there are a couple of items I still am not sure about.

Jason

it's part 30 that is leaking around the metal piece, so I should just get the AN adapter and replace that hose with some braided and plumb in a cooler? Do I need the small or large adapter?

should I bother replacing any of the other lines while I'm there or just leave well enough alone?

Large, new style, p/n xrp37123. Whether you want to replace more than just that line really depends upon how much work you want to do, how much you track the car, how much you want to spend, etc... Personally, I'd just replace that one line, plumb in a cooler, and look for an aftermarket reservoir that will fit in about the stock location (and that has a cap that doesn't suck like the stock reservoir). Get the fitting, some an-6 hose, a cooler and the necessary fittings, and then run them all to the new reservoir. Put new juice in the rack (we use redline p/s fluid), burp it, and you're good to go.

Jason

anything special I need to know?
will just any braided line work..........I saw on the site that they had special power steering lines......is that relevant?

Jason...did you ever put together your complete replumbing parts list, and if so can you post it??

Dirt track shops have adaptors to take standard GM rack fittings and convert them to -10, I believe. They also carry the adaptors for the pump.

I only use Aeroquip fittings. I have never had an AQ hose fitting seperate on me. I have seen cheaper hose fittings come apart on dirt track cars ...

I made my HP line using the above parts last year and it's held up nicely for the whole season.

Yeah, I've seen them, unfortunately there are a lot of them! The part# Jason referenced above converts to -6 and by the posts looks like it is the piece for the high pressure side on the pump. I was hoping to get a complete list of adapters and other hose ends (90s, 45s, whatever) that someone used in order to put 'em all on my Christmas list!!

I used a 45* fitting on the pump end and a 90* fitting on the rack end

And I was looking at my oil cooler set up when I said -10 ... it should read -6

I wish I could give you the part numbers for the adaptors, but I no longer have them.

PM Pimpmaro, we did the pressure side of his from the pump to the rack not long ago and he has/had the info for that hose.

Al, someone sent me an email asking what exactly is needed to plumb up the system. Below is the email I sent to them. This was over a year ago. I never did use the fitting that goes into the rack and converts it to AN 6, although I did screw it in when the engine was out, so it fits. I'm currently jimmying the bumper cover to attach with just 8 1/4 turn fasteners, so I look at the crappy way the p/s cooler is attached frequently. Doing it right is not high on the list (but it is on the list). I have a note to myself as well about whether the p/s pump is block mount or not. Without doing research I'm not sure why I made the note and what it means. I assume it's in regards to some sort of bracket or adapter.


_____________________________________________________
2 @ xrp37123 large gm ps fittings 25.98
2? @ xrp209006 90 degree AN-6 fittings 27.00
10? @ arqfca0600 AN-6 braided hose 45.00
1 @ ps cooler & fittings ??
1 @ xrp218006 180 degree AN-6 fitting 18.25
1 @ xrp100006 AN-6 straight fitting 5.25
1 @ OCA01501 /01202 ps fluid reservoir 49.95
1 @ xrp209010 90 degree AN-10 fitting 19.50
3 @ arqfca1000 AN-10 braided hose 20.25
1 @ xrp203020(?) AN-10 fitting (unknown angle) 23.00
1 @ pfspsp-10 / dix3-301 ps pump and bracket (head) 164.90
1 @ xrp203006(?) AN-6 fitting (unknown angle) 15.75
1 @ xrp209006(?) AN-6 fitting (unknown angle) 13.50

This is a basic list of the pieces that are needed to make a new power steering system for a 4th gen f body. I don't currently have an engine in the car, so I can't as accurately mock up some of the fittings between the pump and the rack. As such they are guesstimates in the above list. This list also presupposes a power steering cooler. Capital Motorsports doesn't seem to carry a cooler in the size I'd get (actually, the size I have - I have mine plumbed in front of the radiator on the passenger side for what it's worth) There are plenty of places that carry them though. If possible get one with AN-6 fittings, as this makes less fittings that are needed. Also, I've listed a different ps reservoir. Fitment of the oblong one isn't easy in the engine bay. I put mine on the passanger wheel well, tilted at an angle. It ain't pretty but it works. I also don't have a battery in that location, so cars with the battery in the stock location should beware that pitfall. I think that's about it.
__________________________________________________________


Jason

Good info.

About the note, I'd guess it has to do with how the pump is mounted right up against the head and gets a lot of heat transferred into it. Probably had to do with getting the pump a little more isolated.

The head versus block thing is for the aftermarket pump's bracket. The bracket can either be for block mounted or head mounted. I needed to look at the engine to see which was appropriate in our scenario, which I'm pretty sure is block now that I think about it.

Jason

fyi, on my '98 when it was still a v6, the ps pump was block mounted, and the reservoir was remote... It was on a hanger/support by the abs module. So that could be a premade solution for the reservoir.

If you replace the high pressure line with a non OEM piece, make sure the fittings and hose you use are rated for the pressure - it is quite high. Cooler goes on the low pressure side, and barb fittings are fine there. I use a small B&M trans cooler (Summit pn BMM-70265) mounted behind the hole in the fan shroud at lower pass side.

get an Earls catalog, good tech:
http://holley.com/categories.asp?division=Earls

Excellent!
Ok, I now know almost everything I need...
The xrp37123 fitting is an adapter to go from the GM o-ring on the high pressure side of the pump to the high pressure side of the rack...but...

What fittings are on the low pressure side of the pump and the low pressure side of the rack?

If you go with the stock pump then I think you are limited to a regular push on and clamp it hose. I'd have to check out the pump, but I think that you -may- be able to get the bib removed and have the pump tapped by a machinist. Then you could use whatever thread you like and use AN or whatever you like. If you go with the aftermarket pump I think it's already plumbed for AN-6. Either way you use another of those xrp37123 fittings on the rack. I have that item listed as 2@ on the parts list.

I think I have that all right.

Jason

So if you wanted to plumb up the high pressure and low pressure side you'd need three of those xrp37123 fittings? One at the hp side of the pump, one on the high pressure side of the rack, and another on the low pressure side of the rack? This would all be a lot easier if I just had the car!

Wow, Alan...good call on the warning about ensuring we use the right stuff on the high pressure side. Both Earls and Aeroquip have specific hose and fittings for this! You learn something new every day

The rack to AN-6 fittings (xrp37123) are just for the rack.

For the pump, I'm not sure what thread type is in there. But now that I think about it, it may be that fitting as well, in which case we'd need three. But I don't know that for sure. If someone has their ps lines lying around that would be good to know.

This is all assuming a stock pump. If you go with the aftermarket stuff then it's a whole new ballgame.

Jason

As I am at work, I just skimmed this, but I have converted mine to AN braided line. Make sure you use the high pressure teflon braided line. It's usually specifically marked as PS line. The power steering pump on an LS1 produces approximately 1400 at the lock but it's working pressure is far lower (but still exceeding safe limits for standard braided line). The high pressure port on the LS1 pump is an M16 x 1.5 o-ring design and I used a -6 AN. The adapter you need on the rack is an M18 x 1.5 o-ring. Make sure you use the high pressure rated steel fittings (also usually marked for use with the teflon hose or specifically for power steering systems). I found that using two 90* hose ends worked perfectly for my routing but your results may vary. I did not install a PS cooler though as my camaro already has one from the factory. I also did not re-plumb the return lines because I didn't have a need for it and I also was too lazy to figure out a good solution for attaching the return line to the reservoir. Any more questions feel free to PM, email, or AIM me!

Wow...so the LS1 pump and rack are different than the LT1? Thats a good thing to know.