Power steering hoses - upgrades

[taylormj4]

Hello,
Following a service (not sure why things that have been fine for years keep coming back broken after servicing but...) my power steering system is leaking nearly the entire reservoir in approx 100 miles of use !

The leak seems to be in the common leak place for Chimaeras (the two LP hoses coming out from the pump).

My question is has anyone tried any mods / different types of hoses etc as it doesn't seem the best design.
Anyone tried replacing the hoses with metal pipe ?

Found an 'upgrade' kit:
https://chimaerapartsonline.co.uk/product/power-st... but still seems to be essentially the same design but with some better fittings. Seems more of a 'looks better' upgrade than a 'more reliable' upgrade.

Thanks.

[bobfather]

The LP hoses harden where the jubilee clips are. The metal U band is quite long so if you're looking for a temporary fix you can fully open a couple of additional jubilee clips, ease them around the hoses above the existing clips and tighten them on fresh soft tube, fit them the opposite way round so the screw sections don't clash. I say temporary but I did this 8 years ago and I've never lost any more fluid. Temporarily permanent for me

[roseytvr]

taylormj4 said:

Found an 'upgrade' kit:
https://chimaerapartsonline.co.uk/product/power-st... but still seems to be essentially the same design but with some better fittings. Seems more of a 'looks better' upgrade than a 'more reliable' upgrade.

Thanks.

Pirtek or similar will knock up a set for you but you will need to take in your existing stuff or quote threads and sizes etc. I couldn't be bothered with the hassle and went with your link, top quality stuff that does the job perfectly well

[Colin RedGriff]

Those replacements kits are better than the originals they eliminate the jubilee clip joints which is where they leak from. My old ones leaked regularly and since I fitted one of those kits about 5 years ago, I've not had a single problem

[Hedgehopper]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Excellent kit, not cheap but good quality and doesn't leak.

[mach2]

+1 for the John Zubak kit above. As said not the cheapest option but has eliminated all leaking that I had previously, despite repeated attempts to resolve.

[JWzed]

bobfather said:

The LP hoses harden where the jubilee clips are. The metal U band is quite long so if you're looking for a temporary fix you can fully open a couple of additional jubilee clips, ease them around the hoses above the existing clips and tighten them on fresh soft tube, fit them the opposite way round so the screw sections don't clash. I say temporary but I did this 8 years ago and I've never lost any more fluid. Temporarily permanent for me

+1 I double clipped mine a year ago. Dry as a chip ever since.

[TailEndCharlie]

I know its a schoolboy question, but im guessing its just regular power steering fluid that is used. I have to do some work on mine, and will need to get some more fluid.
Thanks..

[taylormj4]

Colin RedGriff said:

Those replacements kits are better than the originals they eliminate the jubilee clip joints which is where they leak from. My old ones leaked regularly and since I fitted one of those kits about 5 years ago, I've not had a single problem

The kit still seems to have a jubilee clip on the pipe to the bottom of the pump, which is one place mine is leaking but I suppose there isn't much you can do about that one.

[Colin RedGriff]

Also worth flushing the system through with clean fluid just to remove any debris from the fluid