please help fitting POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE 1966 SATELLITE 361

[moparjon]

1966 SATELLITE 361 Big Block . i think its the chrysler pump , but am not sure . i am having a very hard time getting a new return hose back on the steering gear side . i was under the impression that the size should be 5/8 ID . does anyone know if this is correct or not . pump and gear i believe are stock . it seams the hose is too small . i wriggled it , pushed it , greased it and gave it hell , but only went on about 1/4" inch . so should i just get 3/4 hose from somewhere , ( any suggestions where from ? three auto parts places didn't have return hose that big , just heater hose . but , i thought you cant use heater hose for the power steering . ) or is there some trick to this ? ( like heating it up or something ? ) any help is appreciated , thanks

 

[Meep-Meep]

Yes, this is a 5/8" hose. Look for some oil resistant hose at the parts house or perhaps you might have to go to a hydraulic fitting and hose shop. Or even better, look it up here http://www.mcmaster.com/# and have it the next day.

 

[Osyman]

Should be 5/8". I went behind the counter at autozone, and picked one with a u bend.

 

[moparjon]

Yes, this is a 5/8" hose. Look for some oil resistant hose at the parts house or perhaps you might have to go to a hydraulic fitting and hose shop. Or even better, look it up here http://www.mcmaster.com/# and have it the next day.

ok thanks , 5/8" is what i have , but cant get it on far enough . any suggestions ? i only got it on about 1/2 inch now , but still isn't far enough to clamp . it is just way too tight . is there a way to soften or expand the hose ? heating it ? or rubbing alcohol or some old timey trick to get the hose to go on ? i tried grease but it only helped a little , two of us pushed on it for over an hour and got only 1/2 inch on . the hose says and measures 5/8 , the shaft of the gear is 5/8" but the nipple in front is about another 8th . thanks

 

[coloradodave]

I feel your pain... I bought my return hose from NAPA. Make sure it's for exposure to oil / P/S fluid. Heater hose will break down in short order and leak. I used spray-on dry silicone on the fitting and heated the hose end with a heat gun. Still required a lot of pressure but went all the way on. Good luck.

 

[moparjon]

I feel your pain... I bought my return hose from NAPA. Make sure it's for exposure to oil / P/S fluid. Heater hose will break down in short order and leak. I used spray-on dry silicone on the fitting and heated the hose end with a heat gun. Still required a lot of pressure but went all the way on. Good luck.

THANKS ! i did not have silicone or a heat gun , but i used oil and a hair dryer . worked great ! thanks again .