I have been wrastling the PS return hose on my 1996 Cherokee. It has been leaking since we got the truck last month. I went to replace it with a hose the local auto parts guy gave me, turns out he gave me the wrong size so I found some fuel line laying around and used it. I then posted up on this forum as well as another about using fuel hose as a substitute for PS return. The posters made it clear that was a bad call...nothing new for me.

The feeling I got after reading the responses on the thread was that wayward PS fluid was something that was not worth risking. So I decided I would install OEM stuff.

Anyway, I called my local Jeep dealer and asked what the replacement cost of the PS return hose is. After a few moments the Jeep parts guy came back, cleared his throat, and said the price was just over $100. After a moment to collect ourselves, we both began to chuckle.

So I decided to try and reuse the current OEM return hose to see if I could clamp it down better. Turns out after I removed it there was some broken plastic in the hose which I thought was the problem. I believe I saw in the previous owner's maintenance records where he had the PS pump replaced. I am guessing whoever removed the PS hose off the old reservoir may have broken off the plastic fitting on the reservoir leaving stuck in the hose. Regardless, I hoped that removing the plastic & tightening the clamps would make me golden...not so much! Still leaking. I guess it is possible there is still junk in the hose causing the leak, but I thought I blew it all out..

So if the OEM hose is leaking is it worth risking pay a hundo for new OEM PS return hose or do you think there is a safe, suitable replacement, eg. ATF hose? Or is there a another reason why the hose might be leaking?

 

?

6.84 on rockauto

11.99 at autozone
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...6_3796_0_35305

12.33 at napa
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Det...+50038+2038004


You get my point.... SEARCH.
It took me 2 minutes to find it in 3 different places.

 

I would hit the Junk yard.. You might be able to get one for about $10.00. I would rather try that then to drop a $100.00 on something and it not working..

 

i think i paid like 21.00 fot the line on top of the pump at a local parts store if that helps

dont go to the dealer they will pull ur pants down and rape you till you cry and have no money left

 

If the rubber part of the return hose is leaking, just use some transmission line to replace it.

 

I also found those prior to posting and could not believe they were so much cheaper. So I assumed I searched the wrong part #. why would they be SO much less and still be of equivalent quality?

 

cause there not from the stealership they charge way too much for everything

 

The way auto parts work: most are made by one/two companies and then shipped out to different stores who then sell it at whatever markup they want.

These (all 3 listed above) are made by Edelmann, who makes OEM replacement parts.
Its pry the same thing you would get at the dealer, or extremely close to it.

 

So transmission hose is a suitable substitute? If so, that sounds like a winner.

 

Yes, its just a low pressure line. (as long as you're talking about the return line)

 

I just replaced mine with the $12 one from oriley and it was identical to the original that i pulled off (only it didnt leak )

 

I am referring to return line...heading to pick some up thanks!

 

The OE probably doesn’t make many of these hoses any more, so they probably have to go through considerable effort to get someone to start up the machinery and build 100 or so hoses (to stock the other 99). Then they get to have their money sitting on a shelf for the next few years or so until the other 99 hoses are purchased.

I don’t know for a fact that this is how Chrysler does it, but I work for a manufacturing company and that is how we do it. If a customer orders a wire harness for one of our old systems we have to pull someone off the line to make it, which slows down mainstream production. And we can’t let that go for free.

 

or, maybe try and find a hydraulic shop. the line can be manufactured for next to nothing. happy hunting.

 

Got it at NAPA...$15. Thanks Guys!