high pressue hose question

[Peter Golledge]

Konstatntin Bogach wrote:
> 
> Happy holiday to all!
> 
> My Audi defies holidays. When I start the car on 5F degrees morning I
> heard loud groaning and I found that join between damper pipe and the
> hose is leaking badly (I leaked very little before). It could not wait
> for the spring (I don't have a garage) to do that! Now I need to replace
> all hoses and rebuild steering pump. I pulled all about it in archives
> and I have some questions:
> 
> - is cold morning is just coincidence or it played some role?

I have not experienced this, other listers can probably elaborate.
I have had hoses rebuilt for both my 89 200s with no issues after
many 10K miles on both of them.  I have paid between USD $35 and $45
for the hose depending on the effort required.

> - I did not find prices for the hoses yet (dealer's price is ridiculous)
> but I am thinking to bring them to hydrolic place to make new hoses. I
> noticed some posts where people complained about groaning sound after
> they replaced high pressure hose with one rebuilt in hydrolic place. Is
> anything special in OEM high pressure hoses?

You need a shop willing to remove the existing fittings and reuse them
on the new hose, many "crimp and go" shops simply wont touch this sort
of work.  Another hint, tell them this hose is for a "High Pressure"
hydraulic steering system, brake hoses = "liability" = "we don't do
that".

The only issue is keeping the restrictor from the original hose, if you
don't you WILL get the groaning/whirring steering sounds.  Cut off the
outer protective sheathing, take the  hose to the shop, explain what
you need, point out the restrictor (they may not believe you, ask them
nicely to remove/reuse it).

> Any restrictors? 

See above.

> Is it a
> good way to go? Can I do it for both high pressure hoses (to rack and to
> accumulator)?

I would do both the hose from Pump to Rack and from Pump to Accumulator.
Make sure the hose shop constructs the new hose so that the damper in 
the Pump to accumulator still fits!

Cheers
- 
Peter Golledge

89 200TQ (Wagon + Sedan), 79 Porsche 930, 89 SAAB 900i