The "power steering cooler" (a loop of seamless steel tubing wound back-and-forth inside the left frame tube) of my '97 K2500 perforated due to incorrect hardware holding the snow-plow bracket to the frame. In other words, somebody crammed too-long bolts into the frame, and one of 'em rubbed on the "cooler" until it wore a hole in the tubing.
The leak would empty the PS reservoir in about half an hour.
I had to drive the truck about 150 miles home when I bought it. I figured I'd burn-up the pump on the way. Expected to replace the pump after I fixed the PS leak.
Actually, the PS pump survived just fine. Still using that same pump. Bypassed the cooler--just re-routed the return hose directly back to the pump. If I drove the truck much in the summer, I might need to add a PS cooler, and I probably should do that anyway--but "so far so good".
Ideally, you wouldn't use a worm-gear hose clamp. They're hateful. But sometimes a proper shielded clamp in the correct size is hard to come by. The "fuel injection" clamps in the photo are probably not available in a size large enough for PS return hose.
For the record, PS return hose is NOT rubber fuel hose--neither low-pressure carburetor style, nor high-pressure fuel injection style. The fuel hose is probably not rated for the temperature of the returning PS fluid, and perhaps not for the chemical composition of the PS fluid. However, PS return hose and transmission cooler hose are interchangeable. I've gotten mine at NAPA, but I suspect every other parts store in North America can supply it.
The leak would empty the PS reservoir in about half an hour.
I had to drive the truck about 150 miles home when I bought it. I figured I'd burn-up the pump on the way. Expected to replace the pump after I fixed the PS leak.
Actually, the PS pump survived just fine. Still using that same pump. Bypassed the cooler--just re-routed the return hose directly back to the pump. If I drove the truck much in the summer, I might need to add a PS cooler, and I probably should do that anyway--but "so far so good".
Ideally, you wouldn't use a worm-gear hose clamp. They're hateful. But sometimes a proper shielded clamp in the correct size is hard to come by. The "fuel injection" clamps in the photo are probably not available in a size large enough for PS return hose.
You must be registered for see images attach
For the record, PS return hose is NOT rubber fuel hose--neither low-pressure carburetor style, nor high-pressure fuel injection style. The fuel hose is probably not rated for the temperature of the returning PS fluid, and perhaps not for the chemical composition of the PS fluid. However, PS return hose and transmission cooler hose are interchangeable. I've gotten mine at NAPA, but I suspect every other parts store in North America can supply it.
Last edited:
