The power steering line manages and maintains pressure in your power steering as you drive your car.
This enables hydraulic-assisted steering, so you don’t have to manually turn the weight of your wheels.
When it starts to go out, you’ll see a reduction in the efficiency of that system, meaning steering will get harder and may even become impossible. This means it’s never safe to drive with a bad power steering line. But, what does it cost to replace?
The average cost of replacing a power steering line is $250-$450. Here, you’ll need about $50-$150 in parts. You’ll also have to pay for 1.5-5 hours of labor, which will cost between $100 and $450 depending on where you go.
The table below shares a quick price comparison of Power Steering Line replacement cost estimates from reputable suppliers:
| Supplier | Parts | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| YourMechanic | $160-$419 | $94-$295 |
| Midas | $158-$440 | $111-$280 |
| Walmart | $9-$212 | NA |
| Pep Boys | $56-$370 | $69-$287 |
| Amazon | $5.88-$426 | NA |
| Autozone | $7.50-$579.99 | NA |
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How Much Does Power Steering Line Replacement Cost?*
The cost of replacing the power steering line or power steering pressure line will normally depend on the cost of labor. However, factors like the cost of parts for your specific vehicle and how much work it is to swap the line out in your specific vehicle will also matter.
For example, the following chart details cost estimates for replacing the power steering hose in different vehicles.
| Vehicle | Power Steering Line Cost | Cost of Labor |
|---|---|---|
| Ford F150 | $57-$351 | $95-$170 |
| Hyundai Tucson | $49.99-$366 | $124-$189 |
| Ford Ranger | $14.99-$94.75 | $76-$185 |
| Ford Falcon | $24.99-$266 | $89-$195 |
| Toyota Camry | $56-$372 | $139-$241 |
| Honda Pilot | $39.99- $237 | $290-$425 |
| Chevy Tahoe | $24.95-$278 | $81-$200 |
| Honda Odyssey | $32.99-$158 | $94-$290 |
| Chevy Impala | $39-$85 | $160-$280 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | $38-$140 | $140-$280 |
| Chevy Silverado | $61-$143 | $145-$320 |
*Note: Prices are estimates and were correct at the time of writing in May 2023. Cost estimates may have changed since. Our figures should be used as a starting point for your own research.
What Is A Power Steering Line?
The power steering line or hose connects the steering pump to the rack and pinion assembly in your suspension. Here, the system uses hydraulics (pressurized fluid) to push the rack left and right, assisting you with steering.
If the line starts to lean, crimps, or is otherwise damaged, your power steering may go out. That means you’ll have a harder time steering and may not be able to turn the wheel at all.
For this reason, it’s generally unsafe to drive with a bad power steering line. However, a small leak will allow you to safely drive to the mechanic – although you might want to be prepared for steering to be heavier than you’re used to.
Power Steering Line Replacement Pricing Factors
The total cost of replacing a power steering line depends on the vehicle, the complexity of the job, the cost of parts, and the local cost of labor.
Make and Model of Vehicle
Replacing the line is a relatively simple job. In fact, in most cases, your mechanic can do the work in less than 2 hours.
However, in other cases, like with the Honda Pilot and Odyssey, you’ll actually have to drop the frame in front of the line first – meaning you can take up to 5 hours on the job.
Therefore, the total cost and complexity of replacing a power steering line vary quite a bit between vehicles.
On most vehicles, you can expect 1.5-2 hours to be a reasonable time-to-completion for replacing the power steering hose. On others, 4-5 hours is not a bad estimate.
Cost of Parts
Power steering lines are relatively simple and straightforward parts. However, they can be quite expensive on some vehicles.
In some cases, that’s because the brand charges more for the original equipment manufacturer part. For example, if you buy the OEM part for a Chevy Trailblazer it’s $148. On the other hand, you can get an equitable part for $38 on the aftermarket.
You may not want to use aftermarket or “made-to-fit” parts. On the other hand, you might prefer the cost savings they offer.
In other cases, power steering lines can cost hundreds of dollars. This normally means that the line itself contains pressurizing and hydraulic parts – which greatly add to the cost.
In this case, you would not normally want to switch to an aftermarket part unless you carefully match it to your vehicle.
It’s always a good idea to discuss parts and which options are a good choice for your vehicle with your technician before choosing replacement parts.
Cost of Labor
The cost of labor can be a large part of the cost of replacing a power steering line. However, it usually works out to anywhere from double to quadruple the cost of the part.
Here, you’ll normally pay for about 2 hours of labor just to be safe. In other cases, you may be quoted up to 5 if the technician doesn’t know if they have to drop the frame or not.
Therefore, it’s always better to get more than one quote, so you can compare the time needed from different technicians. If someone knows your car better, it could reduce the quote by several hundred dollars.
The hourly cost of a mechanic also varies quite a bit.
For example, most large urban areas have a going rate of about $200+ per hour. That’s true in Seattle, New York, and a large part of urban California. On the other hand, in rural areas, that rate could drop as low as $15, although it’s unlikely.
On average, you should expect to pay about $50-$95 for a standard mechanic. Your dealership will likely charge $100-$220. And, you’ll typically pay $94 or more for chain shops like Pep Boys.
Each of these shops has pros and cons – and if you go to the dealership, you may even still have a warranty. However, if not, you’ll definitely have to pay for original equipment manufacturer parts.
Finally, most technicians charge a shop fee of 5-20% on top of all other rates. This means that if they charge you $75 for the new line and $190 for labor, you could pay an additional $52 in shop fees.
Signs Of A Bad Power Steering Line
If your power steering line is going out, you’ll probably notice the steering is heavy. But, there are other symptoms you can look for.
However, it can be difficult to tell if these are issues with the power steering pump, assembly, or the rack and pinion assembly without going under your car and inspecting the steering and suspension.
Difficulty Steering
Power steering uses hydraulics or pressurized fluid to make it easier to steer your car. So, when a hose starts to go out, you’ll have more trouble steering the car. However, hose issues can work out in a number of different ways.
For example, you might find that your hose has a leak which means pressure is low. You might have trouble turning the wheel. You might also be unable to turn the wheel at all.
On the other hand, the hose may be crimped or clogged. This might mean pressure is trapped, and your pump is unable to move fluid past it.
You might have difficulty keeping your wheel from turning in a direction against you. This won’t normally be the case and if it is, it’s also likely an issue with the rack and pinion system.
Fluid Leaks
Leaking fluid is always a cause for concern. However, if your power steering fluid is leaking or draining, it’s very likely to be from the hoses.
Here, you can often visually inspect the hoses and their connections for signs of leaks, built-up fluid, or built-up debris.
On the other hand, fluid leaks can also be from the gearbox and from the pump itself. Therefore, you should actually inspect to see where the leak is coming from.
Weird Noises
If your pump is hissing, bubbling, gapping, or working harder, it’s usually a sign that you either have air in the system or you have low fluid levels. Here, it’s important to refill fluid quickly before you overstrain and burn out the pump.
Like the other issues on this list, this can be a symptom of other issues. For example, the reservoir or the pump itself might have a leak. The pump may also have damaged seals.
In either case, you’ll want to check the full system for damage and the cause of the damage.
Visible Damage
If your power steering lines are visibly damaged, it’s time to replace them. You can normally see this by simply looking at them.
However, you may also want to wipe them down with a shop towel before inspection, so you can look for kinks, frays, tearing, and cracks in the lines. If you see visible signs of damage, you should always get new power steering lines.
How Do You Replace A Power Steering Line? (Video)
If you don’t want to go to a technician, there’s no reason why you can’t replace the power steering on your own. However, if you do have a Honda or similar vehicle, it may be a bit more work than you bargained for.
Here, the amount of work also depends on what kind of line you’re replacing. The power steering pump pressure hose goes from the power steering box to the pump. The power steering line goes from the steering pump to the rack and pinion assembly.
Things You’ll Need:
- 16mm line wrench
- 18mm line wrench
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Replacement power steering line
- O-rings
- Drainage pan
- Replacement steering fluid
If necessary, jack up your vehicle to enable access to the front. In other vehicles, you can simply access and remove the hose without lifting the front of the car.
First of all, inspect your vehicle. You may have to start by enabling access to the steering pump. This could involve:
- Pulling the driver-side wheel
- Removing the battery and tray
- Take off the horn
- Removing the fuse box
- Detach the fuse harnesses
If you don’t have to do this, don’t. If you can access your power steering from the top and bottom of the vehicle, do so.
In most cases, if you can access the steering from underneath, it will always save you time and effort over removing the battery and other accessories from the top.
- Take a photo of how the line threads through the engine or check that you have a schematic in your service manual.
- Drain the power fluid reservoir into a pan.
- Use a line wrench to unbolt the line from the power steering pump. This may require considerable effort so feel free to use lubricating fluid and let it sit for a few hours or try a breaker bar if you can’t get it off.
- Unbolt the line from the rack and pinion or the steering box. This should require a larger wrench.
- Inspect both ends for damage.
- Rethread the new hose through the engine, double-checking that it’s in the same way.
- Replace the O-ring on the power steering pump.
- Fit the hose and tighten the bolts to the specifications in your service manual. These bolts must be tight as they have to prevent leakage while oil is at 1,500 PSI or higher.
- Refill the reservoir.
- Turn the vehicle on and turn the steering wheel to lock several times. Keep doing this until the noises stop, meaning the air is out of the system.
- Refill the reservoir to the line. Do not overfill it.
- Turn on the engine and idle.
- Replace any parts you removed from the engine.
Frequent Questions
If you still have questions about replacing your power steering line, these answers should help.
Can I drive with a leaking power steering line?
It’s a bad idea to drive with a leaking power steering line because it will cost a lot more than replacing it.
In addition, if fluid gets too low, it could damage other parts of the power steering system, which may cost thousands to replace. Plus, if you lose power steering while driving, it could be impossible to properly control your car.
Can the power steering line be repaired?
No. You cannot repair a power steering line.
Power steering lines contain fluid at very high pressure (upwards of 1,500 PSI). So, any patches or repairs represent weaknesses that are going to break again. If you have cracks or tears, you’ll always have to replace the system.
How often do you replace a power steering line?
Your power steering line should last 100,000 miles or more, which means you don’t have to replace the steering line unless it is physically damaged.
What’s Next?
If the power steering line is going out, steering can be difficult and dangerous. Fixing the issue means replacing the line, which is usually about $250-$450 – or $50-$150 in parts and another $100-$300 in labor. However, depending on your vehicle, the cost of labor can be higher, but it’s unlikely that the total job will exceed $500.
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