1996 Lexus LS400
I have a crack in the hose that plugs into the resevoir and it's leaking power steering fluid everywhere. I have looked everywhere online so far cannot find the diameter of hose needed to replace it. The hose I need is only about 1 foot long and is highlighted in the picture.
I have read that people are simply replacing this hose with some generic pressure hose from autozone or ect.. but I do not have the option of being able to take it off and match it up at the brick and mortar. I do not have any other transportation to get there. Would anyone possible know the correct diameter of this hose that will work??

 

I'm fairly certain it's 3/8" ID. Be careful not to kink the new hose. The original is premolded.

 

thanks I appreciate that!!

 

I bought part number AC3820P from Advance Auto Parts which turned out to be a 20" hose. I cut it down to about 12" to fit. So far, it's working good.

 

How is that hose holding up?

 

I used generic 3/8" PS/ATF hose on my '91 about 12 years ago for this application. Still going strong.

Some things I remember:
- the old hose was amazingly tough to get off. It was part brittle, cracked, hard as a rock. And part melted/glued to the fitting. So utility knife, vise grips, whatever it takes. Don't expect it to come off easily.
- that 3/8" ID hose was a little tight. 3/8" is about 9.5 mm. So I expect the correct hose would be 10 mm ID. Lubing the inner hose and the outer fitting with ATF will help it slip on, but as with my other comment, don't be surprised if it is not as easy as you think it should be.
- I think the Genuine Lexus part has a foam protective insulator around it. To protect from heat and cutting/abrasions. I used an old hose to cut a spiral wrapper to put around my new by-the-foot generic replacement.

 

oldskewel is "old school".
Modern technology does not beat old school ingenuity.