How to Replace the Power Steering Hose on a 96 Cavalier
- 1). Park the car on a completely level surface. Loosen the driver's front wheel lug nuts with a tire iron. Raise the front of the car with a jack. Place jack stands beneath the front subframe rails. Lower the car onto the jack stands. Remove the driver's front lug nuts, then remove the driver's front wheel completely. Open the hood of the Cavalier and set the hood prop.
- 2). Place a drip pan beneath the passenger rear side of the engine, underneath the belt location. Remove the power steering lines from the pump, on the passenger side of the engine. If you are working on a 2.2-liter engine, the pump is on the upper rear portion of the engine, attached to a bracket. If you are working on a 2.4-liter engine, the power steering pump mounts directly into the side of the engine, onto the cylinder head. Use a line wrench to remove the fittings from the pump, then allow the lines and pump to drain into the pan.
- 3). Lie beneath the driver's side of the Cavalier, and slide yourself in position to view the rack and pinion assembly. Determining how to access the lines is the most essential part of this project. If you can fit your hands between the subframe and the body of the car, this is going to be your easiest route to the lines. If your hands do not fit, access the lines from the upper engine compartment, by reaching downward. Reaching the lines from above the car may require the use of a step stool.
- 4). Place a second drain pan beneath the rack and pinion, where the steering lines join. Remove the fittings from the rack and pinion neck, using a line wrench. Remove the fittings from the steering rack, and allow them to drip into the drain pan for no less than five to ten minutes.
- 5). Follow the power steering line back toward the pump, along the rear of the subframe. Remove the hold down clip from the subframe with a ratchet and socket. Pull the power steering lines downward from the steering rack through the subframe. Turn the lines to pull them out from the engine compartment completely, from underneath the car. Remove the old lines from beneath the car and throw them away.
- 6). Run the new lines into position, prior to attempting to attach any fittings. Verify the upper line fittings reach the power steering pump, and the bottom line fittings reach the steering rack.
- 7). Start the lines onto the steering rack by hand first to verify you have proper thread alignment. Tighten the fittings snug with a line wrench, and then turn the wrench 1/2-turn farther. This will add the 20 to 25 foot-pounds of torque needed to seal the lines. Proceed to the power steering pump in the engine compartment.
- 8). Install the power steering lines onto the pump and tighten them in the same manner you did the steering rack fittings, by hand, then by wrench. Proceed back beneath the Cavalier. Install the power steering hold down clip back onto the subframe, and snug the clip bolt with a ratchet and socket. Do not torque the clip bolt, or you will snap the head off the bolt.
- 9). Open the power steering pump reservoir and top off the reservoir with power steering fluid. Close the lid of the reservoir. Ask your assistant to start the car and turn the wheel slightly right and left. Look beneath the vehicle to ensure there is no power steering leaking from the rack. Double check the power steering pump for line leaks as well. If you find leaks turn the engine off, and recheck your fittings. When there are no leaks, proceed to Step 10.
- 10
Ask your assistant to turn the steering wheel completely left until the steering system starts to push back on the steering wheel, or stops. Do this again, this time with the car running. Ask your assistant to turn the wheel completely to the right in the same manner, until the wheel stops or kicks back against him or her. Ask the assistant to shut off the ignition. Check the fluid reservoir and top it off. Repeat this step until the reservoir fluid level does not drop at all, because you will then have bled the entire steering system.
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