Power Steering hose -1994

[Cusser]

Yesterday I (again) replaced the high pressure power steering hose on my 1994 Suburban. There was the original one, now this is the third one from CarQuest (last two were free replacements, lifetime warranty). This is about a $25 part, all have leaked from the lower crimp. It's a typical horrible GM disign, with intacate bends at both ends, and the hose is under some tension as well, makes it a pain to install as both fittings must be hand-started several threads so must line up exactly, tough with that springy tension and me having only two hands. Couldn't GM have done a better design job with this? I'll even forgive the 16mm and 18mm wrench sizes, which I now have because of this wonderful hose, even with a 16mm x 18mm flare wrench, and a stubby 16mm wrench as well. I'm just saying that with a right anfle fitting coming out the rear of the PS pump, this would've been a better design.

Funny thing, as I wa physically on my back under the Suburban, someone called in to "Car talk" on the radio about replacing a GM power steering hose like mine. The brothers said they used to get a lot of calls like this, but in recent years "no one does this work themselves, they take to mechanics..." Funny.