replacing a high pressure hose on a 5th Gen. Got the old hose out and snaked in the new one. Cannot connect the end that hooks up to the steering rack. Tried for two hours to screw in the end into the rack, it looks like the threads will not catch whatsoever.

I have everything else hooked up and and positioned correct, I even got the bracket that holes the hose down on the cross member bolted down (what a POS that was) but I can't get the end of the hose connected to the steering rack, the end sleeve will simply not screw into the rack. It will not even catch any threads. I tried moving the tip around thinking maybe I have it angled or something but nope that's not it. I gave up for now.

Anyone who has done this before, any tips or ideas? Is it really a bitch to get it to connect? I rather pull the cylinder head again instead of doing this job, what a pain in the rear end.

 

maybe the threads are ****ed check the old one

 

Yup, that's what I thought. I'm gonna cut off the end from the old hose and see if I can thread that one back in the hole, to see if the threads are messed up on the new hose or not.

Or maybe the threads are messed up on the steering rack =(

Does that mean I would need a new steering rack?

 

It looks like if the threads are messed up, I can replace the valve body unit on the rack, but I wonder if that's possible with the rack still in the car. Damn it, i dislike FWD even more now.

 

Power steering hoses can be such a P I T A I usually try putting the hardest end to attach in first but only start it. Then start the other end then you can position and secure the rest of the hose and tighten down the ends.

 

What are the chances of the threads getting messed up on the valve unit that the power steering hose connects to? I am having a really hard time getting it to connect....what a pain in the rear end.

 

Finally I got it done and back on the road. Thanks for the tip, I ended up doing the same thing. I disconnected everything and gave the hose some slack and focused on trying to get the end that meets the steering rack attached first. I don't know why but it did not want to screw in for awhile, until I got lucky and felt the threads catch.

I never again want to do this job again. My right arm is cut and bruised like no other. I ended up replacing all the other power steering hoses also. Hopefully I won't have another power steering problem for awhile.