Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Didn't have the best of days yesterday. A pin hole in a power steering hose sprayed fluid onto the passenger side exhaust manifold, causing a lot of smoke. Where is the best place to get a new hose for an S4? I don't know if it is the flow or return, but I think I'll just do both while I'm in there.

You were lucky Lee as a number of 928s have been lost to fires when steering fluid leak sprayed onto hot exhaust.

It's the high pressure line. I replaced mine on my previous S4 and bought from OPC.

You can save a lot by removing line and having Pirtek local depot replace just rubber sections. They will also replace the banjo bolt fittings but make sure they use flexible joints. If they are not oriented precisely as original they cannot mate squarely to rack and pump.

It's a slightly tricky job to relace this line. Was easier for me as mounts were knew so had space to remove and refit the line. You need to unbolt bushings on anti roll bar for access to rack fittings. Also have to drop alternator as otherwise too tight behind PS pump but some more dextrous types have managed without dropping alternator.

While you have access to pump it us worth replacing supply line too. This is moulded hose so OPC best bet. Also replace rubber section of return line to reservoir. I did get Pirtek to copy this section as it's just clamped at each end. The whole return line is also part metal so just use dremel to cut crimp where it is joined to metal section which exits on lhs engine bay. If you do relace the lines to reservoir you may as well replace reservoir too as it contains filter.

Thanks for the info'. I've got new engine mounts to fit and I bought a second hand rack from Simon Watson which is away getting reconditioned as we speak. I was going to do a write up about it all once I done it.

Looks like my hand has been forced and I'll have to do it all this week. I wanted to go and see Phil on Saturday, so wanted to take the car. Looks like a few late nights this week, and the usual optimism that I'll manage it.

Still, once it's done and all that. I can't see me selling the car, so I'm going to have to do it one day.

As the car is in the way, of paying customers in my friends Merc' garage, I have ordered the hose from OPC. £186 delivered overnight.

Saves the car having to get the hose off and sent for repair and coming back again, which takes time. This way, it can go straight up on the ramp and come off fixed with the right hose on. Going to do the engine mounts too while it is up.

Just doing the burst hose at this point, money, time and enthusiasm is limited. The steering rack isn't bank, so it can wait until the winter. I get the feeling that the fluid on the drive was from the burst hose anyway. Doh, now I've spent money on the rack I don't need it!!!! Still, I'll have a new spare one.

Is it normal ATF fluid that goes back in? Anything special?

Looks like I will still make it to Cumbria this Saturday.

ETA: Stupid Bank Holiday, hose will be delivered Wednesday!

Hi Lee

Sounds like good plan. The line has gone up a bit since I had to buy one about 3 years ago but not by much.

It's normal ATF fluid. I think originalbspec Dex II but now it's mostly Dex III which is fully backwards compatible. I just use Halfords stuff.

Thank you, I'll let you know how I get on.

Hose all done, I had to jack the engine up to get into the pump so I changed my engine mounts too. It has made a difference to the car. No shaking at 2000 revs. The steering is much lighter with fresh fluid in the system.