Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 104

Thread: [DIY] Power Steering

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Posts
    13,327
    My Cars
    99 M3, 01 F350

    [DIY] Power Steering

    Well, I just recently completed the power steering hose DIY.

    I had found a couple DIY's and didnt find exactly what I was looking for, so I decided I would make my own. I dont have all the pictures I wish I did, but this is a VERY easy DIY. This is more for part numbers, and my issues with finding the "right" hose for the return line

    First off, the return line hose that people make themselves, needs to be oil resistant and high PS.

    I originally found 1/2" ID heater hose, and after talking to a couple people it was not oil resistant and did not have the PSI rating to be used for this application. The power steering fluid (ATF) is corrosive and can eat through the hose if you dont use the proper hose.



    The hose on the left is the "right" hose to use. It's transmission cooler hose from NAPA with 400psi rating and oil resistant. The hose on the right is heater hose, and you can tell it doesnt have the reinforcements necessary for the PSI rating required.



    This is the hose from Napa.

    I also purchased a brand new intake manifold hose from the BMW dealer with my BMWCCA discount for $30. This hose is too cheap, NOT to get a brand new one with the PROPER fitting for the power steering pump.

    :edit: in addition.. make sure you get the 2 new crush washers that go with the intake manifold hose. these go between the banjo fitting, and the bolt. These two washers "should" come with the new hose, but make sure you confirm. They are #3 in the diagram, but dont show up in the part number listing as they came with my hose :thumbsup:

    Part #1 Intake Manifold part number 32411138419




    There is a small fitting in the hose that runs from the hard line on the return line to the reservoir. After talking to a couple people, when you replace the hose with the NAPA hose, it will NOT cause any ill effects and no need to worry.

    I removed the two old hoses and then removed the reservoir to clean out the filter contained at the bottom with 1-2 quarts of brand new ATF fluid. I ran the new fluid through the reservoir until the fluid coming out was looking brand new.

    I then used brand new hose clamps, and installed the hoses on the reservoir to make it easier to clamp everything together. The transmission hose needs to be cut at 11.5" inches to reach from the reservoir to the return hard line.

    Once the reservoir is installed back in the bracket, reattach the hoses to the return line and power steering pump.







    Once all the hoses are connected, fill the reservoir with ATF. I used Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. Once filled to a decent level, start the car and rotate the steering rack FULLY from one side to the other a couple times to "bleed" the rack of any air. Once you have completed this, double check the fluid level in the reservoir, and then ENJOY


    So you will need these parts.

    3-4 quarts of ATF of your choice (1-2 for flushing reservoir, and 1-2 for refilling)
    Napa part #H1945 ... 3ft of Transmission Oil Cooling Hose
    BMW Part #32411138419
    and then the new hose clamps
    "Torque is like cowbell... you can never have too much." - Michael Cervi


  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Florida Panhandle/ Ohio
    Posts
    7,318
    My Cars
    14 JGC/13 E88 128i
    Nice Write Up.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    N/A
    Posts
    1,284
    My Cars
    N/A
    so you replaced all three hoses? What about the flow restrictor?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Posts
    13,327
    My Cars
    99 M3, 01 F350
    just 2 hoses... flow restrictor was taken out and not replaced...

    no ill effects...
    "Torque is like cowbell... you can never have too much." - Michael Cervi


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    To and fro 'Tween Suffolk and LA
    Posts
    2,128
    My Cars
    1995 E36 M3, 2002 E46 M3
    was the flow restrictor engineered for a reason?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sammamish, WA
    Posts
    5,600
    My Cars
    95 Hellrot M3/02 MY Z06
    Huge thread on the subject a few years ago when a member put together a kit for a group buy....no one has ever shown conclusive evidence or data to support anything one way or another if you run the restrictor or not. I plan on doing mine sometime soon, will probably can it too....

    John
    '95 Hellrot M3 w/Dove
    AA Euro HFM Stage II (w/21# Injectors & Software) W/Gen III Exhaust - URI Crank Pully - FDM w/3 Row M Coupe Rad - 3.23 LSD - Vogtland Club Spec/Koni SA - UUC Red w/Enforcers - TMS Shims/Rear Camber Bars w/QA1 inners/Sways - VMC F/TMS R End Links - X-Brace - Perf Ultimate/SS Brake Lines - GC Tower Mounts/RTAB Shims - ZKW's w/5000K Hid - Fog Delete - Alpine 9847/Pioneer TS-C130R Kevlar Components/Pioneer PRS-X340/Stealth Box's/Wired Zune 120GB - OE LTW CF Sills/Glove Box Plate - Staggered Black M-Spoke II's w/235/40 (front), 255/40 (Rear) Nitto NT05's - Rolled Fenders!

    ***Got a '95 M3? (actually pretty common on all years! Even happened to Racer Seth Thomas! ) Check Your LSD! http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=390209

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    cali
    Posts
    352
    My Cars
    e30
    ^ Do you know if that kit is still available? I need to replace both hoses.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sammamish, WA
    Posts
    5,600
    My Cars
    95 Hellrot M3/02 MY Z06
    Quote Originally Posted by Nguyen View Post
    ^ Do you know if that kit is still available? I need to replace both hoses.
    I have no idea, do some searching in the Group Buy forum.....

    John
    '95 Hellrot M3 w/Dove
    AA Euro HFM Stage II (w/21# Injectors & Software) W/Gen III Exhaust - URI Crank Pully - FDM w/3 Row M Coupe Rad - 3.23 LSD - Vogtland Club Spec/Koni SA - UUC Red w/Enforcers - TMS Shims/Rear Camber Bars w/QA1 inners/Sways - VMC F/TMS R End Links - X-Brace - Perf Ultimate/SS Brake Lines - GC Tower Mounts/RTAB Shims - ZKW's w/5000K Hid - Fog Delete - Alpine 9847/Pioneer TS-C130R Kevlar Components/Pioneer PRS-X340/Stealth Box's/Wired Zune 120GB - OE LTW CF Sills/Glove Box Plate - Staggered Black M-Spoke II's w/235/40 (front), 255/40 (Rear) Nitto NT05's - Rolled Fenders!

    ***Got a '95 M3? (actually pretty common on all years! Even happened to Racer Seth Thomas! ) Check Your LSD! http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=390209

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    SF Bay Area - East Bay
    Posts
    5,848
    My Cars
    2015 435i M Sport
    FWIW - if the car runs fine without the flow restrictor, I suggest leaving it out... it appears under extreme spirited driving... aka redline... the PS fluid boils/foams and expands out the cap...

    FWIW anyway...
    BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
    Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus



    Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    NorCal
    Posts
    6,336
    My Cars
    MTree
    Great write up.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Sandy Eggo
    Posts
    3,436
    My Cars
    95 M3 and 15 Fiesta ST
    Nice write up, I'll be doing this soon.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    568
    My Cars
    2007 JB 335i Coupe

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    N/A
    Posts
    1,284
    My Cars
    N/A
    I'm confused, you replaced hoses 5 and 1 with napa hoses? What about the upper left hose with no number?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    N/A
    Posts
    1,284
    My Cars
    N/A
    The steering rack with cooling coil pipe... do you replace it?
    Last edited by ImplicitFiber; 06-30-2009 at 10:02 PM.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    1,305
    My Cars
    E36/E46 M3 - E46 323ci
    nice write up - thanks!

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,062
    My Cars
    02 E46 M3 IR + 13 Honda

    Lightbulb

    Quote Originally Posted by hurrican5547 View Post
    I'm confused, you replaced hoses 5 and 1 with napa hoses? What about the upper left hose with no number?
    This DIY is for #1 and #9, which most often leak in many cases.
    -you replace these 2 with NAPA hoses
    -in hose #1 you remove the banjo bolt and insert it in the NAPA hose and clamp it to the reservoir
    -once you remove #9, from reservoir by remocing clamp and from hard line by crimping that section there will be a clamp in the mid-section of it which you remove and cut out that section and get the restrictor out of it
    -then you put that restrictor in the NAPA hose and push it (with a stick or something) in the middle of the hose and put a clamp on it so it does not move.
    -then you install #9 to hard line and clamp it down and clamp the other end down at the reservoir.




  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,062
    My Cars
    02 E46 M3 IR + 13 Honda

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Beaverton, OR
    Posts
    2,527
    My Cars
    E36
    What's wrong with the OEM hoses? (assuming new ones)

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,062
    My Cars
    02 E46 M3 IR + 13 Honda

    Talking

    Quote Originally Posted by AgentHubcap View Post
    What's wrong with the OEM hoses? (assuming new ones)
    Nothing wrong, but PS hoses can be replaced with NAPA for cheaper w/o hurting anything...at times the OE hoses leak at reservoir, at times they may leak from the crimpped part where the hard and soft line meet (#9).

    When you use NAPA hose and use clamps and tight those bishes down, it is more secured and the chances of a leak are less


  20. #20
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    2,729
    My Cars
    '98 M3
    Just an update: At least In my area, all automotive stores only carry up to 3/8" transmission cooler hose only. So either call NAPA or go in person with this part number. I made the mistake of going without it and they told me they have nothing except 50ft rolls that can't be cut to size. I tried a few other places with no luck, even a tractor supply company. Looked online at NAPAs site and found that it said they had one in stock. Called in with the part number and the same fella that told me they don't have it told me the online inventory is wrong but they could order it. I could of had the part today if he had ordered it before noon. Learn from my mistake, luckily I didn't need it asap.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,968
    My Cars
    Turbo e36 M3
    Ill be doing this soon. My power steering hoses are bleeding fluid. All over my floor...

    PT6262 - SPA Mani- NickG Tuning - TiAl - CES Cut-Ring - Blood Sweat & Tears
    PT6262 Budget Build!! | CES Cut-Ring Install Thread

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    San Diego, CA (UCSD)
    Posts
    152
    My Cars
    S52 95 M3
    I did this fix a few weeks ago using the hose recommended by the OP. My local NAPA had the H1946 hose in stock and was selling it for $5/ft instead of $20 for the 3ft of H1945 and possibly having to special order it.

    Heres the link... as you can see they are same.
    http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...946_0364349995

    I think I bought 2 feet just to be safe but I think I would have been fine with 1 foot.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,968
    My Cars
    Turbo e36 M3
    Yep. My local napa has 1/2" ID goodyear transmission cooler hose. $4.50/foot.

    Is the intake manifold hose prone to leaking, or would i be safe skipping it?

    PT6262 - SPA Mani- NickG Tuning - TiAl - CES Cut-Ring - Blood Sweat & Tears
    PT6262 Budget Build!! | CES Cut-Ring Install Thread

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Wichita, KS
    Posts
    2,817
    My Cars
    97' M3
    I recently replaced everything in an effort to avoid laboring-effort trying to remove those clamps underneath the reservoir from the bottom of the car. Its a relatively inexpensive and an easy undertaking.

    Replaced items:
    PS Reservoir - $21 (bavauto.com)
    PS Inlet Hose - $33 (bavauto.com)
    Crush washer(s) - $2(bavauto.com)
    NAPA H1945 Hose - $26 (left over length is good for another install)
    Clamps - $5

    The only issue I had was by accidentally moved the "reservoir clamp" out of stock position, this created a very difficult reinstall due to the stock short M6 bolt (I have to push rearward and rotate the bolt at the same time, there is no room behind the alternator terminals to work). I ended up buying an extra long M6 bolt from Homedepot to solve the issue.
    97 M3/4

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Posts
    13,327
    My Cars
    99 M3, 01 F350
    #9 hose is the only hose being replaced by the NAPA DIY hose...

    #1 hose was bought new at your favorite BMW parts retailer (local dealer, RME, AutoHaus, thebmwpartstore, etc)
    "Torque is like cowbell... you can never have too much." - Michael Cervi


Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •