Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:38:54 -0400
Reply-To: Steven Shelton <shelton4@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Shelton <shelton4@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Buzzing Power Steering On '87 Van After Replacing High
Pressure Line
In-Reply-To: <COL118-W358A5E07764FAB31606C4ECFF60@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I had the same problem with a line I had rebuilt by a local shop. When I
picked it up the guy talked about how hard it was to put the new hose on
the fittings. After installation, the steering rack buzzed for a couple of
weeks before I bit the bullet and bought a new line. There was no buzz
from the moment I started the engine. I think the shop installed a hose
with a slightly smaller ID. It's hard for me to believe, but that smaller
line may have starved the steering rack of fluid enough to make it buzz.
On Mon, Jun 11, 2012 at 10:55 PM, Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@hotmail.com>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
>
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