Date:         Fri, 15 Jun 2012 02:23:06 +0000
Reply-To:     Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Buzzing Power Steering On '87 Van After Replacing High
              Pressure Line
In-Reply-To:  <4FD73F86.7080106@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

John -

Good advice.  I picked my van up from the mechanic, today.  It's still buzzing, and 
his attitude was it wasn't his responsibility.  

I can handle swapping 
the hose myself, so if anyone has a good used hose, or a suggestion for who would, please let me know.   If not, I guess it's break into the piggy bank and buy the new one. 




It's a great life, if you don't weaken!



- Mike 

Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, ID            

mike_l_f@hotmail.com         



                   Happiness is a moving target

> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:09:26 -0500
> From: jrodgers113@gmail.com
> To: mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM
> CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Buzzing Power Steering On '87 Van After Replacing High Pressure Line
> 
> I went through this same thing. Had a leak in that short hose. Replaced 
> it with a re-built from a list vendor. Buzzed like crazy. I thought it 
> was the pump. Changed the pump three times, before someone told me about 
> the restrictor that MUST be there. The replacement hose didn't have it. 
> I found a used hose with the restrictor. No more noise. Every pump that 
> I thought was faulty worked just fine after getting rid of that rebuilt 
> line and putting a factory hose with the restrictor back in.  I would 
> suggest you find a used, serviceable hose from one of the good Volks on 
> line that keep such things. Cheaper that way. Otherwise, bite the bullet 
> and get a new one - even though they are pricey.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
> John
> 
> On 6/11/2012 9:55 PM, Mike Finkbiner wrote:
> > A couple of weeks ago I started hearing a buzz from the floorboards after replacing the high pressure line from the power steering pump to
> > the main line, (the U-shaped one with the banjo fitting on one end).  It had
> > started to leak and the local VW shop (DEDA in Pullman, WA) said he
> > could have the existing ends put on a new piece of hose, flush the
> > system, generally make all good.  Sounded reasonable, but when I picked
> > it up there was a buzz/whistle coming up through the floorboards.  You
> > could feel the vibration in the steel power steering lines under the
> > van.
> >
> > He said it was OK to drive while we figured it out, so I
> > went to the Wet Westies campout in Walla Walla where Jason Newton checked it out and suggested the hose shop may have
> >   reversed a check valve when they built the line.
> >
> > Back to Dedas,
> > where he said it could be, so had the shop re-do the hose.  They
> > re-built the hose, said it was OK to start with.  Still buzzed.  OK,
> > perhaps the pump has a problem after the flush?  Tried a new pump, still
> >   buzzes.
> >
> > So - I've been looking for a decent used line to see if that would solve the problem without any luck.  I also wrote to Frank Condelli who sells replacement lines as long as you send him your old one to use rebuilding it.
> >
> > He replied that there's a restrictor in the line to reduce the pressure, and it's probably missing from the one DEDA had built.  He doesn't use them anymore, just replaces all of the steel lines with high pressure hose so the buzz never get's transmitted to the body of the van.
> >
> > Hmm - the shop says the restrictor is in place and pointed the right direction.
> >
> > It's fun trying to figure these things out, if you are independently wealthy.  It was interesting to get an opinion that the buzz is cosmetic, but it still worries me.
> >
> > So - if I can't find a replacement hose to try, it sounds like I can either:
> >
> >     put up with the buzz, scarcely noticeable at highway speeds but annoying in town;
> >     replace all of the steel hoses with new rubber lines to see if that works;
> >     buy a new hose from Van Cafe for $265  (about $15 per inch!);
> >     or find another solution
> >
> > If anyone has a reasonably priced power steering line, or another helpful suggestion, let me know!
> >
> > - Mike
> >
> > Mike Finkbiner
> >
> > '87 Westy
> > Moscow, Idaho
> > mike_l_f@hotmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> >                     Happiness is a moving target
> >