Replacing Power Steering Return Hose - 88 F250

[1scoot]

Has anyone replaced the power steering return hose on a 1988 F250?

The hose comes from the reservoir as 3/8" rubber hose, and then goes onto metal tubing, and then rubber again, and finally back to metal at the steering box. The hose winds all the way down the front axle and back up. I went to the parts store to get a replacement hose and their computer said all I need is about a foot of the rubber 3/8" hose.

I could easily just use a foot of the rubber hose to go from the reservoir to steering box, but why is there 6 feet of metal and rubber tubing? Do I need that extra tubing? Does it need to have the metal tubing?

[unclebubbles]

The metal tubing in the system acts as a cooler for the power steering fluid. Some heavy duty applications such as police cars, taxi`s, trucks with towing packages...ect. have a small cooler with fins on it. You can get by without it, but it does help lower the temp of the fluid.