I blew out a power steering hose!

[newmarokie]

We were getting ready to go to a football game in Stillwater, OK. We were packed, unplugged, and aired up to go. Sitting in the driveway, my son called. I was sitting in the driver seat and felt the steering wheel jerk. I ended the call, and the steering wheel was completely dead. It could not be moved. I got out to do a walk around and there was red fluid under the engine compartment. The crimped on end of the power steering hose had blown off. I raced around town and found a hydraulic splice, a short hose and fluid for repairs. Got it put together and fired it up. It held in testing until we pumped the stop in full turn to the left (I'm left was no different than the outcome would have to the right) and blew out the splice connection. I gave up for the day and got up and went to the next day. It is now Sunday and I am tearing into it. Has anyone attempted this? Is the hose a one piece that runs front to back. It looks to be. It is also a 3k non conductive hose. Does anyone know why this is?

 

[Neal]

I think this was discussed here as a high interest “concern” by @Rich W. with people moving the steering wheel while stationary and the power of comfort drive causing this.

Edit: or maybe it was front tire failure.

 

[newmarokie]

Neal, I read @MarkMaxPayne's experience with comfort drive and all that ensued. The comfort drive could have caused a full pressure event on the system, but everything went dead with the loss of power steering pressure at the pump.

 

[Neal]

Bummer. Hope you can get’er fixed up. Things broken are no fun. Hope it’s not too hard to fix.

 

[MarkMaxPayne]

Neal, I read @MarkMaxPayne's experience with comfort drive and all that ensued. The comfort drive could have caused a full pressure event on the system, but everything went dead with the loss of power steering pressure at the pump.

? Perhaps a different Mark? My experience with comfort drive has been quite delightful. Sorry to hear about yours.

Best,
-Mark

 

[newmarokie]

Sorry Mark. I was thinking it was you that blew out a tire and lost steering out around Albuquerque some time ago.

 

[SteveMA]

You might have some luck with a heavy equipment mechanic coming out to crimp a new end on it’s not unlike losing a hydraulic line on a large grader or bulldozer. Obviously you can’t move the coach without it so it will be a service call no matter what.

I do recall somebody posting that Newmar/Freightliner/TRW had changed the programming at some point on comfort drive to drop the pressure down after a certain amount of time. I just don’t know what year they made that change. If I remember correctly, the result of having a wheel cranked all the way to the stop and holding it there for too long was the same thing that you had - the hose end would blow off the crimp.