57 power steering hose question

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Guys,

    Caddy Reproductions has had some nice stuff but has anyone ever used their replacement for the power steering hose?  Mine has a pinhole leak which has a temporary fix (duct tape and a hose clamp) but I need to change the hose asap.  Can anyone tell me if this will work?  I noticed its missing the reducer in the middle

http://www.vintagecadillacreproductionparts.com/p/8404224/1957-cadillac-power-steering-hose---pressure.html

[J. Gomez]

Tim,

I recall a topic at the Mid-Century Cadillac site related to the correct P/S hose.

The correct high pressure side should have the adapter/reducer between the P/S pump and steering box. The one shown on your link is the generic type, not the correct one.   

I recall members at the Mid-Century Cadillac were pursuing with Fusick on building the correct type for our Cadillac, not sure if they were able as they needed one as a prototype to get the ball rolling. You can check with Fusick.

Another alternative is if you have a hydraulic shop in your area they may be able to reuse the connectors and change the hoses, you may need to check with them.

Good luck..!

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Sadly I dont think any shops around here repair lines.  I did find this product from Mcveys

http://mcveys.com/products/1957-power-steering-pressure-hose

My preference is to find a direct bolt on replacement thats correct or that will function exactly the same.  I have the all GM show in Rockville on August 13th so I want to get this repaired before then.

[J. Gomez]

Sadly I dont think any shops around here repair lines.  I did find this product from Mcveys

http://mcveys.com/products/1957-power-steering-pressure-hose

My preference is to find a direct bolt on replacement thats correct or that will function exactly the same.  I have the all GM show in Rockville on August 13th so I want to get this repaired before then.

Tim,

You have to look at yours and compare it to this one

I know the hose section from the P/S pump has a larger diameter than the section going to the steering box, the one on this site looks to me as the same diameter hose. 

Sorry..!

[59-in-pieces]

Tim,
I would go with the metal band in the middle.
Now, it could be an urban legion or old wives tail, but way back when I was told that the metal band served a real purpose as it was in that area that hoses failed for lack of more strength in that vulnerable area, and never go with a hose without it.
Also, I agree with J that the sections are different - end to end.
Have fun,
Steve B.

[Walter Youshock]

That band is there to slightly restrict flow and keep the hose from flopping around I was told.  And that hose is another '57 Cadillac only part.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Walter does it really matter if its there or not?  I'm not doing any 100 point shows with my car anytime soon...I just want a reliable replacement

[Walter Youshock]

I don't think so but you might get some movement in the hose.

[savemy67]

Hello Tim,

As you may know, many reproduction parts are not quite exactly like the factory original.  Will the reproduction parts fit?  Probably yes.  Will the reproduction parts do the intended job?  Probably yes.  Are the reproduction parts the same quality as the factory original parts?  Perhaps not.

Your hose leaks, so you can purchase an available reproduction part, or, as J. Gomez suggests, try to find a hydraulic hose fabrication shop (think trucks, excavation equipment, etc.).  Both Tipton Technologies and Colliflower Inc. are located in northern VA.  I have never used them, and don't know if they fabricate, but they might know who does.  I do know that Fastenal fabricates hydraulic hoses.

You may also want to consider the engineering behind why Cadillac made that hose the way they did, and if it was a one year only design, why did they change it in '58.  Even though it cost Cadillac to design a one year part, even Cadillac will admit that sometimes, some design changes were not worth the money.

You could scour eBay for an NOS hose, but I would probably avoid 60 year old rubber items.  Good luck, and hope to see you at the show.

Respectfully submitted,
Christopher Winter

[Walter Youshock]

I had to replace mine a few years ago and went NOS.  No issues with leaking or dry rot.  Broke my heart to open the original Cadillac tube it came in and actually put this mint part on the car.

I did go to a few hydraulic fabricators and none could do the sleeve.  One guy wanted to autopsy the hose and see what the band was but I declined.  May have been one of them who said it added stability to the hose so it stayed in place under hard turns.  It was probably over engineered...

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Thanks for the input everyone.  I'll go with a repro and look for a NOS if it ever becomes available.