Power Steering Hose - High Pressure

Replace the high-pressure power steering hose connecting the power steering pump to the steering rack on a 1992 Dodge Viper, including fluid evacuation, line removal, installation with new O-rings, and system refill.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• High-pressure power steering hose assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Power steering line O-rings × 4 — Use OEM specification
• Shop towels × 1 — Generic

Fluids

• Mopar power steering fluid or ATF+3 — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake.
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels.
3. Open hood and secure in raised position.
4. Locate power steering fluid reservoir at front of engine compartment.
5. Using suction tool or turkey baster, remove as much power steering fluid from reservoir as possible and place in drain pan.
6. Raise front of vehicle with floor jack and support securely on jack stands under frame rails behind front crossmember.
7. Allow engine bay to cool if vehicle was recently operated.

Procedure

1. 1

   Access and identify high-pressure hose routing
   From above engine bay, locate the power steering pump on the front passenger side of the engine. Trace the high-pressure hose from the pump outlet fitting down toward the steering rack. The hose routes along the front of the engine, down past the oil pan, and connects to the steering rack on the driver side of the vehicle. Note the routing path and any clips or brackets securing the hose before removal.
2. 2

   Position drain pan and prepare work area
   Position drain pan beneath the steering rack area on driver side to catch fluid spillage. Place additional shop towels around the pump outlet fitting and rack inlet fitting. Have extra towels ready as approximately 1-1.5 quarts of fluid will drain from the system during hose removal.
3. 3

   Disconnect hose at power steering pump
   Working from above, use flare nut wrench to carefully loosen the high-pressure hose fitting at the power steering pump outlet. The fitting connects to the pump high-pressure outlet port; verify the exact fitting type (threaded, inverted flare, or banjo) against factory documentation before removal. Once loose, unthread the fitting by hand and carefully pull the hose end away from the pump. Fluid will drain from both the hose and pump outlet. Cap or plug the pump outlet with a clean shop towel to minimize fluid loss and prevent contamination.
   ⚠Use a flare nut wrench to prevent rounding the fitting. Do not use standard open-end wrenches on hydraulic fittings.
4. 4

   Release hose from routing clips
   Follow the hose routing and release it from any mounting clips or brackets securing it to the engine block or frame. On the 1992 Viper, the hose may be secured by one or more retaining clips or brackets along its routing path. Note the actual clip locations and quantity during removal for reinstallation. Note clip locations for reinstallation of the new hose.
5. 5

   Disconnect hose at steering rack
   Working from underneath vehicle, locate where the high-pressure hose connects to the steering rack inlet fitting on the driver side. Use flare nut wrench to loosen the hose fitting at the rack. Unthread completely and remove the hose end from the rack fitting. Allow remaining fluid to drain into catch pan. Cap or plug the rack inlet with a clean shop towel to prevent contamination.
   ℹ️The steering rack fitting may have accumulated road grime. Clean the area before loosening to prevent debris from entering the system.
6. 6

   Remove old high-pressure hose
   Carefully extract the old high-pressure hose from the engine bay, following its routing path. Inspect the old hose for signs of damage, abrasion, or fluid seepage that caused failure. This will help verify proper routing of the replacement hose.
7. 7

   Inspect and clean fitting seats
   Remove the shop towels from the pump outlet and rack inlet. Inspect both fittings for damage, debris, or corrosion. Use wire brush or clean shop towel to clean the threads and sealing surfaces at both the pump outlet and rack inlet. Remove all old O-ring material from the fitting seats if visible.
8. 8

   Prepare new high-pressure hose
   Unpack the new high-pressure hose and verify it matches the original routing configuration and fitting types. If the connections use O-ring seals, install new O-rings on the applicable fitting ends per factory documentation. Verify whether the pump and rack connections are O-ring style or metal-to-metal flare seats before ordering or installing O-rings. Lightly coat the new O-rings with clean power steering fluid to ease installation and prevent tearing during threading.
   ℹ️Do not reuse old O-rings. New O-rings are critical for preventing leaks at the high-pressure connections.
9. 9

   Route and position new hose
   Route the new high-pressure hose along the same path as the original, starting from the steering rack connection point and working up toward the power steering pump. Ensure the hose does not contact exhaust components, sharp edges, or moving parts. Position the hose ends at both the rack inlet and pump outlet but do not fully tighten yet.
10. 10

    Connect hose to steering rack
    Thread the hose fitting into the steering rack inlet by hand until finger-tight. Verify the fitting threads smoothly without cross-threading. Using flare nut wrench and torque wrench, tighten the fitting to specification.
    ⚠Start threading by hand to ensure proper engagement. Cross-threading will damage the rack fitting.
    Torque spec

    Power Steering Line Fittings30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Connect hose to power steering pump
    Thread the hose fitting into the power steering pump outlet by hand until finger-tight. Verify smooth threading without binding. Using flare nut wrench and torque wrench, tighten the fitting to specification.
    Torque spec

    Power Steering Line Fittings30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Secure hose in routing clips
    Install the high-pressure hose into the routing clips or brackets noted during removal. Ensure the hose is properly secured and does not have excessive slack or tension. Verify clearance from all moving parts, exhaust components, and sharp edges throughout the routing path.
13. 13

    Lower vehicle and refill system
    Lower vehicle from jack stands to ground. Remove jack stands and lower floor jack completely. With engine off, fill the power steering reservoir with Mopar ATF (Dexron II/ATF+ type per 1992 specification) to the Cold Full mark on the dipstick. Add fluid slowly to avoid overfilling.
14. 14

    Bleed air from power steering system
    Start the engine and allow it to idle. Turn the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock 10-15 times without holding at full lock for more than 2-3 seconds. Stop engine and check fluid level, adding as needed to maintain Cold Full level. Restart engine and repeat the lock-to-lock procedure until no air bubbles are visible in the reservoir and the fluid level stabilizes. Final fluid level should be at the Hot Full mark with engine at operating temperature.
    ⚠Do not hold the steering wheel at full lock for extended periods as this generates excessive heat and pressure in the system.
    ℹ️Foaming or aeration in the reservoir indicates air remains in the system. Continue bleeding until fluid is clear without bubbles.
15. 15

    Inspect for leaks
    With engine running, carefully inspect both hose connection points at the pump and rack for any signs of fluid leakage. Check along the entire hose length for seepage. If leaks are present at fittings, shut off engine, allow system to depressurize for 5 minutes, then re-torque the leaking fitting to specification. Wipe all connections clean and re-inspect after several minutes of operation.

Reassembly

1. Reassembly is completed during the installation steps above.
2. Ensure all routing clips are secured and hose has proper clearance from moving components.
3. Verify final power steering fluid level is at Hot Full mark after system reaches operating temperature.

Verification

• Check power steering reservoir fluid level with engine at operating temperature; should be at Hot Full mark.
• Verify no fluid leaks are present at pump outlet fitting or rack inlet fitting with engine running.
• Turn steering wheel lock to lock while stationary; operation should be smooth without whining, groaning, or binding.
• Test drive vehicle and verify normal power steering assist in both directions at low speeds.
• Re-inspect all connection points after test drive for any signs of seepage or leakage.

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