Power Steering Reservior & Hoses (i-CTDI)

[rlees85]

I've got an 18 year old Accord. Been an amazing car and would really hate to give it up. This year however has been challenging....

The last set of woes started with the power steering high pressure hose leaking badly. Its the part that Honda want like £600/700 for and there are plenty of knock-offs on eBay. I found a local place that reconditions these hoses so I used them - problem solved.

Since then, when going into corners sometimes theres a whirring noise of varying volume, sounds like the power steering pump. Almost impossible to reproduce standing still, pump sounds perfect. I ***umed air in the system so I tried loads of random ways of getting air out and then I realised its actually leaking quite badly from the reservior to the hoses as well.

The knock off reservior/hose sets on eBay look like petrol only (mines diesel).

Honda simply do not make those hoses anymore, at all.

Used parts are risky and normally have the same problems (since they are 20 years old now too, after all).

How are you guys coping with having vintage cars now? Has anyone else had any experience with this problem? At this point just knowing if its likely the reservior or hose thats failed would be handy.

 

[Richard B]

The hydraulic maintenance industry is well established. If you have the two end bits, you can always have the hose and crimped ends replaced. A decent hose doctor will be able to come up with a solution even if the end parts are damaged, as these fittings aren't specific to the Accord or even the automotive world.

Whoever will have the last driving i-CTDI will be have a car full of custom parts. Re the reservoir, there are definitely other Hondas that use the same brake fluid reservoir (Honda will never tell you which, though). The entire vintage car world operates on custom parts, re-manufacturing, and making parts from other cars fit. It is only growing larger.

 

[rlees85]

Sadly not a lot around here willing to work on cars or help fabricate things and whilst I don't mind doing some maintenance I can't be a mechanic as well as a fabricator. I'll set it sorted this time for sure with used parts (thanks for the pointer other cars use the same reservior) and maybe some custom hose.

Does feel like its getting harder to keep anything thats not brand new on the road these days, in the UK at least