Power steering hoses removal & installation

Tiny
MSOMMERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 CHEVROLET VENTURE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 168,000 MILES
2002 chevy venture power steering return hose. My manual does not show a diagram. I think there is a cooler which is normally at the front. The replacement line says you hook up from the gear or pump I presume to the cooler. However, I don't see the cooler. I'm just assuming as I followed and what I can see, the return comes down from the pump goes along the frame to the front, goes along the front frame right to the left then loops back to the right and heads back to where it came down. And then what? There was no cooler at the front. I don't want to confuse the pressure line with the return line. If I had a diagram I might be able to sort it out but I guess that is hard to find. I had one mechanic who was confused on which line is which. Another mechanic said which line was which and that both lines needed to be replaced and when I traced them, they both ran into each other. So now I am confused. If they are not sure I guess I will try and do it myself.
Now my question is. How is the return line routed and connected so as I can replace it?
How is the pressure line routed and connected?
I hope I am clear for you.
Thank you Mike


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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 12:10 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
PROTECH1980
  • MECHANIC
  • 901 POSTS
Hey Mike, your pretty clear, im gonna send you some pics that I hope will help. That line that wraps up front is refered as a cooler pipe same principal as a cooler and that is your return. At the pump itself the high pressure line has a nut on it, (see picture) which goes down to the rack and pinion, the return at the pump just has spring clamp on the rubber hose(see picture) then goes down to cooler pipe, wraps up front goes back and attaches to rack. Hope this helps let me know
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 12:49 AM
Tiny
PROTECH1980
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Another pic
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 12:50 AM
Tiny
MSOMMERS
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I see your picture and what you wrote. I've got that figured out. Where I am confused is where you say it attaches to the rack and also where the pressure hose goes ( route ) when it comes off the pump!
I don't see it going to the rack on my vechicle.I see the return comming back as you say and I see it on the diagram, I know this, however, on my vechical it comes back ( the metal line )and connects to a rubber hose and fitting which continues up and behind the engine. This diagram is not clear at this part and this is where I need help. Okay I just got a e-mail with a second picture. The picture is saying the return goes into a hose fitting and goes up behind the engine and behind a heat sheild and connects to the rack. Am I on the right track?
If so, what is the best way to access the rack fitting. I'll be working at it on ramps. Can I jack the front of the motor up to lower the back to get more access room? Is this possible or is there another possiblity? I'm open. Second I am still confused, is there a cooler? Third, do you have diagram of the pressure hose and its route as I asked? Because as I said before I had another mechanic tell me I need to replace the pressure hose.
If I am doing this I want to check it ( pressure hose ) also and need to know its route and have clarification.
Thank you Mike
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 1:47 AM
Tiny
PROTECH1980
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Heres another Pic of the pressure hose Mike, it comes of the rack along the shield and up to the pump. As for the return just think of it as one continous line from the rack along subframe loops around and comes back along subframe and up to pump. This loop along the subframe IS your cooler. The difficult part is accessing the lines at the rack, when I do these in the shop I actually remove the steering intermediate shaft from the rack and lower the rear of the subframe to access the fittings, take in note Im doing this on a lift. Let me know if you have ay more questions.
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 2:07 AM
Tiny
MSOMMERS
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I see the pressure hose fits on the rack beside the return. The last picture showed me both hoses. I thought it was all one continuous line as a picture is worth its weight in gold. Where my confusion came in was this mechanic telling me I needed both hoses, when he was pointing at one hose, the return hose, saying you need this hose return ( going to the front ) and the pressure hose pointing at the rubber part of the return ( going up behind going to the rack ). Needless to say I ask him to take it off the hoist and I'd sort it out as I kind of saw at the time that it looked like one hose and how can the end of the return hose run into the end of the pressure hose. I assumed he knew his stuff. He didn't know as well as his other mechanic. Me not seeing a diagram I could not be sure and have never done one before. He caused me to doubt myself. I thank you for confirmation and the lesson.

Thankyou again Michael
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 3:01 AM
Tiny
PROTECH1980
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Your welcome. Good luck with the project.
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Friday, February 25th, 2011 AT 3:06 AM

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