I've been having a bit of a battle with the power steering lines getting them 'stowed' and not rubbing on anything but I'm almost 100% sure that the part listed by every supplier for the high pressure line is wrong.

They come with a piece of flexible hose that runs under the sump but it is huge, I'm damn sure my old line did not have such a hose, indeed I believe it was hardline all the way to the left of the engine where there was a flexible hose between suframe and power steering pump.

I'll get some pics tomorrow but I am singularly unhappy with the fit of what is supposedly correct - I do not believe that it is ... the Jaguar parts book for the 87 HE also shows hardline running all the way across the steering rack and only one flexible hose. I am also suspicious of the Jaguar drawing though because that shows the high pressure line at the bottom of the steering rack - the large union - this is not the high pressure hose which is the small union at the top of the rack.

Anyone got any pics of their install handy ? in particular between the power steering rack and under the engine.

 

No pics handy.

But you're not alone.

Many many moons ago, 20 years or more, I did battle with a "correct" power steering hose on my '88 XJS. The configuration was clearly different but the vendor assured me it would work. And, eventually, it did. It was an ordeal, believe me. I came to find out that others had similar experiences.

It was that experience that prompted me to have such hoses made-up locally, when circumstances permitted, rather than buying off the shelf.

Sorry I don't have anything actually helpful to offer.

Cheers
DD

 

In some ways helpful because all kinds of self doubt sets in - wish I could remember where I put the hose / line I removed but that was 3 years back and it probably got disposed of. I also had to bend the low pressure line appropriately because that *** wouldn't fit properly either.

I'm getting close to being able to start and run the thing again so am doing all those little jobs that finish off a full refurb / resto - and some of them are more frustrating than the big ones.

 

Ben
Do you have a ZF PS unit or the previous type (name escapes me)? Assuming the previous type (which was indeed fitted to all pre-facelifts) then it should run along the unit to the B bank side of the unit and then go along in the space between the top of the crossmember and the engine, then the flexible part allows the pipe to go upwards to the pump with a 90° fitting that screws into the pump.

Not hard to make one up if you have the original fittings. Also I highly recommend getting rid of the cooler in the return line, not needed and just another leak source.

 

Standard GM Saginaw.

Problem with the theory is that the additional flex hose is hard against the sump and the steering rack - question is should it be up in the gap because it sure doesn't want to go there, feels like it should but flat out not enough room. I'll get a picture or two later it will make more sense the challenges I'm seeing.

 

Not the pump, Ben, the rack type.

 

The rack is an Adwest. I found my old hose and it is the same but the rubber hose part is a smaller external diameter on the 'original' ... what is even more scary is that I have a picture of it too before I sent the rack out for refurb, I don't have any from when it came back all shiny unfortunately. The pipe will not sit in the location in the image without fouling the engine sump - and yes I replaced the engine mounts with genuine ...



IO

 

I had a terrible time with the one I got from SNG. It went in eventually, but it wasn't a pleasant process.

 

Ben
Will not a bit of judicious bending do the trick?

 

I need to go back to them later when I am less inclined to bend them 180° without a pipe bender. If they clear one place they foul another and that hose is not what I would describe as flexible. I may yet kock up my own high pressure lines with a single flexihose where it leaves the subframe. The problem is there cannot be a lot of metal unsupported so the second you cannot clamp to the rack body you need to go flexible or you will introduce 'fatigue' in the unsupported length.

Bending the line such that the hose is lower is probably a good option but I didn't really want anything hanging below the front subframe, I'd prefer it to be tucked up between subframe and sandwich plate.

Spent Saturday sorting out fuel lines (hoses and layout), ditching a certain carbon canister, resolving the fuel fittings, starting to work on the wiring harness for the new ECU and Sunday messing with brake lines (all fake Cunifer replaced now).

I am going to go back to the steering hoses / lines, even considered lifting the engine a little to see if I can't work out a better 'position' I just don't want things rubbing on anything and I have to allow for movement.

Edit : I did say I would get pics over the weekend, I didn't, I focused on other 'stuff', I will get some and document what I do because it sounds like I am not the only one that has done battle with these things - I just need to be in the correct frame of mind

 

About 10 years ago I redid my rack and PS pump and replaced the hoses. I got them from Rock Auto and they fit perfectly (1990 XJS convert).

 

Yes, but LHD hoses are different from UK RHD cars.