Difficulty Reinstalling The Power Steering Pressure Hose

[supraraleigh]

On a 2002 Volvo V70 XC with 170K miles, I was able to remove the power steering pressure hose. However, it seems that reinstalling it seems nearly impossible. After wrestling with the hose for hours, I decided to consult you guys for some help.

What I could really use are some pictures of how the hose sits when installed. What can also be helpful are some details on where the hose sits in relation to the drive/prop shaft. For instance, it looks like the high pressure hose should follow the low pressure hose as it snakes through to the point where it screws into the steering rack.

I was able to remove pressure hose, therefore there must be a way to reinstall it without removing a bunch of stuff.

I appreciate your help. Otherwise, I might spend countless hours fighting this hose and still not be successful at snaking it through the right spots.

Thanks gents.

[DonnVa]

I don’t have the screw on fittings, but if you check out the lower coupling video that Oragex posted in my “am I crazy” thread it opens up a whole new avenue of access from above that might help you get that screwed back in.

[Blacklab467]

I changed this hose on an '05 XC 90 and encountered the same problem on reinstallation despite taking a whole bunch of pictures. I recall undoing the return line from the rack to facilitate getting the pressure hose in place, I also dropped the rear subframe and simultaneously unbolted engine mounts and jacked the engine up by the oilpan and then it went right in with lots of room to spare. It seems like a lot of work to undo all that but it made for easy reinstallation after fighting with it for probably 2 hours with no progress.

[volvolugnut]

I have no photos and have not changed on all wheel drive, BUT I can provide encouragement. I changed the HP hose on 2001 V70 and it is a struggle, but can be done. I started from the top front of the engine and worked it down and back.
volvolugnut

[oragex]

This isa video on a 2003 rack which is the same as yours but this car is FWD and also the rack is filmed after lowering the subframe. Also note it's a weird aftermarket rack with a mix of press-in and screw in fittings - your SMI should have only screw in ones. See if you can use any angle from the video

[supraraleigh]

Thanks. However, what would be very useful are some details on how the high pressure hose sits in there while installed. Also, the low pressure hose has these "spaghetti loops".

Does the high pressure hose snake through a loop on the low pressure hose?

I can't find any good pictures after hours of searching. I'm really tempted to go the the junk yard just to see some cars with the lines intact which will show exactly how the hoses sit when installed.

Thanks for all responses. I think we really need some pictures to help solve this issue.

[SuperHerman]

Sometimes the best approach is to start at the most difficult point and keep the piping free floating so you can go in straight. By securing the piping along the way it causes the end to twist enough that a straight in cannot be achieved. So snake it into position, use some wire or zip ties to hold it where it needs to be, but keep it loose. Be very careful of cross threading. May not work in your case, but this approach has worked for me on similar lines.

[supraraleigh]

I got the bottom of the power steering pressure line to within 1 inch where it screws into the steering rack. After struggling for a few hours, I decided to take a break and see if you guys have any more suggestions.

[Blacklab467]

Try rotating it, grab it by the passenger side and rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise, you shouldn't have to bend any of the aluminum line to get it in. I recall having a rough time till I rotated it. I hope you haven't put the other end in yet by the power steering pump, you have to do the rack end first.

[abscate]

If you haven’t Hangared the engine and dropped the subframe, it’s really difficult. It wasn’t easy on my FWD t5 and you have even more stuff in the way.