power steering hose fitting size

[Kejtar]

OK, it's a 97 and I can't figure out what wrench to fit on the power steering hose on the steering gear end. I've tried 18mm which seems too small, 3/4" seems waaay too loose which means that 19mm would probably feel too loose as well. 11/16" doesn't even get close to fitting. So do I need to go to 32nds?
Anyways, I need to pick up a nice fitting wrench as I remember the one on my 98 was a PITA to get off even though I had it out of the vehicle (the gear and the whole works) for better access.
Oh yeah, it's the pressure side hose: bastard seems to have sprung a LEAK.

 

[LazarusMJ]

I just changed the PS hoses on my 88 and had the same problem. What I ended up doing was cutting the metal portion of the hose so I could get a socket on it. 18mm 6 point socket was the only thing that would take mine off.

 

[olivedrabcj7]

weird. mine just sprung a leak a couple days ago too. mine is a little pinhole in the rubber end of the pressure hose thats so small you cant see the hole unless the vehicle is running and its leaking. i ran across the same problem with the size wrench. i couldnt get anything on my 18mm combo wrench so ill probably end up cutting it like he said and putting a socket on it.

 

[kubtastic]

18 mm line wrench

 

[5-90]

Yeah, flare nut fittings are a little strange. I think mine turned out to be 16m/m and 18m/m - you should be able to find both at Sears.

That said, I'm in the process of converting all mine to -6AN fittings anyhow - I'm tired of playing with flare nuts, and the -AN stuff is so much easier to play with.

Anyone have any OEM pressure hoses to donate? I've been cutting them off and brazing a -6 plug that I drilled out onto them, and I'd like to rack up a few spares. I like the OEM hoses, because the pressure nut at the pump end is harder than the aftermarket replacements.

Oh - I really suggest you get the flare nut wrenches - especially if you're going to change the lines! There's not a lot worse than realising you've just installed a fitting with a now-round nut on it...

5-90

 

[Kejtar]

Actually my dad had this wrench in his tool box which was old and no markings on it, but it fit perfect. I'm going to take a caliper to it and measure what size it is and then buy one at Sears. If I had to bet on it, it has to be a 32'nd wrench cause it needs to be a hair bigger then 11/16ths and a hair smaller than 3/4ths and metric 18 is too small and 19 is too big (19 is almost same size as 3/4: they are off by 0.6mm IIRC)

 

[olivedrabcj7]

see i put a 18mm wrench on it and it was trying to round off. i was thinking it was somewhere between 17 and 18 mm.