Power Steering Hose Replacement

EddieC · Mar 20, 2026

The pressure hose on '08 Tahoe power steering is oozing a bit. If changed out, I suspect air will get in the system.
Is that difficult to get out?

OR VietVet · Mar 20, 2026

There are several videos to watch on this. When hose installed, lift front tires off ground, refill slowly and with engine off turn steering slowly-stop to stop. Take your time and do not rush. With system full, set back on ground and start engine and again, turn very slowly. Add fluid as needed till stays full while still turning slowly, stop to stop. Then cap off and road test and recheck fluid level.

EddieC · Mar 20, 2026

I just ran across a video that promotes using a vacuum pump.
Not necessary?

OR VietVet · Mar 20, 2026

EddieC said:
I just ran across a video that promotes using a vacuum pump.
Not necessary?

You can use a vacuum pump, no problem. My way is without a vacuum pump. I have used my way for gobs of years. The biggest mistake people do is leaving the front tires on the ground when initially bleeding.

Also, I left something out. When tires are in the air and you have turned stop to stop, SLOWLY, and topped off. Then start the engine and continue the stop to stop with engine at idle. Again, turn slowly and smoothly and continuously. Do not turn 1/8th turn and stop and then 1/8th turn again. Turn all the way, stop to stop, smoothly. Then on ground and repeat and top off as needed and then road test. It may still need a top off because it takes a while to get air out.

Any fluid fill, at any time in the process, should be done slowly.

EddieC · Mar 20, 2026

OR VietVet said:
There are several videos to watch on this. When hose installed, lift front tires off ground, refill slowly and with engine off turn steering slowly-stop to stop. Take your time and do not rush. With system full, set back on ground and start engine and again, turn very slowly. Add fluid as needed till stays full while still turning slowly, stop to stop. Then cap off and road test and recheck fluid level.

"Then cap off and road test and recheck fluid level."
Open pump road test?

LsHart · Mar 20, 2026

EddieC said:
I just ran across a video that promotes using a vacuum pump.
Not necessary?

No

LsHart · Mar 20, 2026

OR VietVet said:
You can use a vacuum pump, no problem. My way is without a vacuum pump. I have used my way for gobs of years. The biggest mistake people do is leaving the front tires on the ground when initially bleeding.

Also, I left something out. When tires are in the air and you have turned stop to stop, SLOWLY, and topped off. Then start the engine and continue the stop to stop with engine at idle. Again, turn slowly and smoothly and continuously. Do not turn 1/8th turn and stop and then 1/8th turn again. Turn all the way, stop to stop, smoothly. Then on ground and repeat and top off as needed and then road test. It may still need a top off because it takes a while to get air out.

Any fluid fill, at any time in the process, should be done slowly.

I have replaced lines and just fill and crank. But if a rack or gear box per say, fill it and bust the lowest line loose. When drippin.. tighten and go flickin!! Lol

rdezs · Mar 20, 2026

Vacuum adapter works great. Sucks all the air out of the system.

OR VietVet · Mar 21, 2026

EddieC said:
"Then cap off and road test and recheck fluid level."
Open pump road test?

"Cap On....Cap Off....The Capper". If you did not know what I meant, then stay away from doing the job. Or, you are messing with me. Either way, anytime you drive, have the P/S cap on the reservoir. I mean "everybody and every cap". Clear enough????

Scrappycrow · Mar 21, 2026

EddieC said:
"Then cap off and road test and recheck fluid level."
Open pump road test?

This is like "inflammable" meaning "flammable." "Cap off" means to put a cap on, not "remove the cap."

Think of what's done when an oil well is decommissioned -- it's capped off.

alvocado · Mar 23, 2026

I've always bled with wheels off the ground, slowly turning the steering wheel clock to clock about 20 times and it has worked every time. Reservoir open during the bleeding. Do it slowly or you'll have a huge mess.

EddieC · Mar 23, 2026

OR VietVet said:
"Cap On....Cap Off....The Capper". If you did not know what I meant, then stay away from doing the job. Or, you are messing with me. Either way, anytime you drive, have the P/S cap on the reservoir. I mean "everybody and every cap". Clear enough????

Not messing with you at all. Just wanted to be sure. Could be taken either way talking about the reservoir.
Thanks for the help.

OR VietVet · Mar 23, 2026

EddieC said:
Not messing with you at all. Just wanted to be sure. Could be taken either way talking about the reservoir.
Thanks for the help.

I know. I am messing with you, too. All good.

fredcook · Mar 24, 2026

I replaced PS hoses on our Tahoes recently. Just did the wheel up turning thing. No vacuum pump needed. No issues.

ScottyBoy · Mar 24, 2026

I can give you one tip on replacing the power steering lines. Using Flarenut Crows Foot wrenches will help you TREMENDOUSLY. I've never replaced my own power steering lines, but I helped my son replace the ones on his 99 Silverado. I tried breaking the futting loose with a flare nut wrench, but I just couldn't get enough room to actually turn the wrench. Then I remembered that I had a set of flare nut crows foot wrenches. Using those allowed me to add as long of an extension as needed in order to get the ratchet in an area with plenty of room to swing it.

OR VietVet · Mar 24, 2026

ScottyBoy said:
I can give you one tip on replacing the power steering lines. Using Flarenut Crows Foot wrenches will help you TREMENDOUSLY. I've never replaced my own power steering lines, but I helped my son replace the ones on his 99 Silverado. I tried breaking the futting loose with a flare nut wrench, but I just couldn't get enough room to actually turn the wrench. Then I remembered that I had a set of flare nut crows foot wrenches. Using those allowed me to add as long of an extension as needed in order to get the ratchet in an area with plenty of room to swing it.

Like these:

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

ScottyBoy · Mar 24, 2026

OR VietVet said:
Like these:

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

Exactly like that. But I'm too poor for that Snap-On set. I have a $30 set made by Sunex. It gets the job done just the same, but for far less money. Now if I was a professional and had to use these all day 5 days a week, then I would "maybe" consider the Snap-On set. But for a "home gamer" like myself, the Sunex set is more than adequate.

OR VietVet · Mar 24, 2026

I hardly ever use them and have a GearWrench set. Used a 17mm one time in the 4 years here at my girl's place.
I retired to here 4 years ago on March 22nd.

EddieC · Mar 25, 2026

ScottyBoy said:
I can give you one tip on replacing the power steering lines. Using Flarenut Crows Foot wrenches will help you TREMENDOUSLY. I've never replaced my own power steering lines, but I helped my son replace the ones on his 99 Silverado. I tried breaking the futting loose with a flare nut wrench, but I just couldn't get enough room to actually turn the wrench. Then I remembered that I had a set of flare nut crows foot wrenches. Using those allowed me to add as long of an extension as needed in order to get the ratchet in an area with plenty of room to swing it.

I actually saw a video just about the advantage of the crows foot wrenches for the job.

Joseph Garcia · Mar 25, 2026

OR VietVet said:
I hardly ever use them and have a GearWrench set. Used a 17mm one time in the 4 years here at my girl's place.
I retired to here 4 years ago on March 22nd.

Happy belated retirement anniversary. I'm 7 years retired as of last December 31st.

Power Steering Hose Replacement

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