Power Steering high pressure hose coating flaking off

[regal_bill]

I noticed the other day that the rubber/plastic coating on my PS high pressure hose is flaking off in several places. It's pretty brittle - I can peel it away in chunks. The braided tubing underneath looks fine, as do the connections at both ends. Is this something to worry about? Does the coating serve any real purpose, or is it only cosmetic?

 

[dingbat]

The hose is shot (dry rotted) and needs replaced.

The other hose in the picture looks bad as well

 

[dubs283]

agree with dingbat, hose is beyond useful (safe) life

local high pressure hose/fitting shop can make a new one for you, cheaper than going oem, if it's even still available

 

[regal_bill]

Thanks, much appreciated! dingbat, what makes you say the other hose looks bad? It's the return hose - I'd read that it was recommended to replace them both, but from the picture, it looks fine to my untrained eyes.

dubs283, thanks for the local shop idea, I'll see what I can drum up. Is it really only a high pressure hose with the right fittings, spec'ed to temperature and pressure, or is there something else special about it?

 

[dubs283]

Is it really only a high pressure hose with the right fittings, spec'ed to temperature and pressure, or is there something else special about it?

bring the hose to them and tell them its a power steering line for the pressure side

they will get the right hose and fittings for you, and match the flared fitting end thread sizing

 

[dingbat]

Thanks, much appreciated! dingbat, what makes you say the other hose looks bad? It's the return hose - I'd read that it was recommended to replace them both, but from the picture, it looks fine to my untrained eyes.

You can tell from the picture that the hose jacket is crazing, the telltale sign of dry rot.

Like anything else hoses deteriorate with age. Never use hose near or over 10 years from the date of purchase or hose that is past the manufacturer’s use by date