Mk 4 Power steering - beginner question

[Phoenixmsb]

About ready for my Mk 4 roadster delivery but I had a quick power steering question that I couldn't find an answer to.

Going with a Autozone 3.0 turn power rack, the 6383 Duralast power steering pump - my question - Can't I just buy the power steering lines from Autozone that will match the pump and rack?

Didn't know why no one is doing this - are they that ugly? Too long?


Thanks for any help.

[frankeeski]

The return hose usually come as a cut to length hose. The pump side of the return slides over the nipple and a worm drive hose clamp holds it in place. The high pressure side you will have some extra length that can be troublesome if you are trying to keep it clean looking. I, like many others, went with high pressure stainless steel braided lines. They just look pretty.

[edwardb]

Yes, it's all about the proper fittings and lengths for the installation. Whether you go with standard high pressure rubber type hoses, or SS braided lines as Frank mentions (and I used), the proper fittings and lengths are going to be very difficult to find with stock hoses. There are places that will make up the hydraulic hoses for you at a very reasonable cost. The SS ones are more expensive for the materials, but the advantage is you can make them yourself.

[2bking]

Summit Racing sells both the braided lines and fittings. There are adapter fittings you will need on the rack to convert to the AN fitting used with the braided lines and summit has those as well. It's a little pricy but so is everything else purchased for these kits. There are lots of other places you will probably want to use the braided lines so once you get comfortable with the assembly of the braided line parts, the decisions on where to use them gets easier.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Forum vendor Breeze Automotive has everything you need to make hoses for less than 100 bucks:

http://www.breezeautomotive.com/

---1) Breeze #70516 P/S rack AN adapters $26.00
---1) Breeze #21514 P/S pump AN adapter $13.00
---2) Breeze #21523 Straight AN hose ends $15.00
---1) Breeze #21524 90 degree AN hose end $17.50
---4 FT. Breeze #21102 Braided Teflon hose $19.60

I've used these fittings and parts on 4 roadsters and it all works perfectly!

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/Aaron5171/100_3829.jpg

Cheers,
Jeff

.

[Phoenixmsb]

Wow - thank you all for the answers. This is a real big help for me. This is why I know I made the right choice going with a FFR - the support group. The picture really helped. I'll go ahead and make my own that way.

Bruce
:cool:

[RP Cobra]

Are rack extenders necessary with the Autozone power rack?
Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Rich

[NukeMMC]

Are rack extenders necessary with the Autozone power rack?
Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Rich

Only if you don't want to experience horrible bump-steer ... In other words, Yes, and they will come with the Base kit. You will end up cutting some of the inner tie rod threads off, (probably). Get the Breeze aluminum offset bushings also. They make positioning the rack in the frame mounts super-easy.

[2bking]

Are rack extenders necessary with the Autozone power rack?
Thanks for sharing the knowledge!
Rich

You will need the 1" rack extenders to get enough thread engagement with the tie rod ends when using the AutoZone rack, FFR spindles, and the outer tie rod ends that come with the MK 4 complete kit. The extenders were not in my complete kit; I purchased them from Breeze. They align the inner tie rod joint with the A arm pivots to reduce the bump steer.

[MPTech]

Good info here. Jeff's list is spot on!
I didn't need the extenders on my rack, no issues.
Everyone said get the Breeze offset bushings, so I did. I installed them from the getgo, seem good with no slop.
I also bought the rack AN fittings adapters from Breeze, but bought the other fittings and hose from a local hotrod shop, so I could cut the braided SS lines and take them back to the shop to assemble (I HATE assembling the SS hose & AN fittings). They did them for free because i bought them there.
I didn't install a PS cooler, no issue yet (don't know if I pushing my luck, but so far, so good).

(I don't know if it's still an issue, but with my MK4 I had to cut/grind the frame ears a bit to clear the PS rack.)

REALLY LIKE my PS! (still on the fence about cutting the spring and/or installing a Heidts valve (I have one on my shelf).