[alster]

'06 EX, i4

Just received a new factory high pressure steering hose form the dealer.

It came with a "rubber" wrapping around the top part of the hose, zip-tied on.

Is that to be removed? Or is it some kind of extra "protection" that is now applied to these hoses? The one I'm replacing (original, factory) still installed in the car doesn't have this on it.

(it actually continues another couple inches on the right beyond my circle. duh)

 

[JTCJTC]

My thought is to leave it on there. If it were designed to only protect during shipping, it would only be held on by tape or shrink wrap and more easily removed. Granted, it could be there to keep the hose relatively straight, but again, I think if it were an issue, it would probably state, "Remove before installation" or similar wording.

 

[alster]

..Granted, it could be there to keep the hose relatively straight, ..

It's soft rubber, not firm or stiff. It certainly doesn't help keep it straight...

 

[kazhuveri]

It is extra protection to prevent the hose from leaking where it is closest to the engine.

 

[WDHewson]

Extra armour for abrasion resistance ???

 

[alster]

Consensus is it stays on, so it stays on.

Thanks guys

 

[Dr. Acula]

It’s “Loom”

the more the merrier.

it stops unintended rubbing and premature failure due to the line compromising itself on the sub frame or mounting pieces and causing leaks and such.

The principal probably failed because it either rusted or rubbed through on something and the slight update is to stop or lessen it from happening again.

pro tip not from a pro;

take a quick glance over your vehicle at all the little lines and hoses. If they are touching anywhere on each other or the frame or body or whatever… eventually vibration will get the best of them and cause failure.

it doesn’t take a lot of contact or even tight and hard contact. All it takes is contact. The vibrations of the engine and the road will do the rest and they will grind themselves to dust where they touch.

another point of failure is the clamps that secure them to the frames and other mounting points. If they don’t have a death grip tightness to them on the lines, any slight movement will cause it to fail over time from vibration.

If a temporary fix is needed until it is properly repaired (as in a line that appears to be compromised but also appears to be doing what ot should at the moment ) shim a piece of cardboard between the issues and don’t forget to properly fix it. The cardboard will absorb moisture I don’t care if you live in the Sahara it WILL get wet and the universal solvent will do the rest to destroy the component .

if the line shows rubbing symptoms but is not compromised put some loom of some kind around it or some kind. If they are two lines loom around one line will rub through another…. Hence… loom both… where they touch.

Imma go on a wild speculation and with no proof and claim that either the mounting or lack of loom of some kind is the number one failure of metal lines and often hoses too… I have no numbers to back this up.

 

[alster]

...
shim a piece of cardboard between the issues and don’t forget to properly fix it. The cardboard will absorb moisture I don’t care if you live in the Sahara it WILL get wet and the universal solvent will do the rest to destroy the component .
...

This is a sensible suggestion. Thanks

Imma go on a wild speculation and with no proof and claim that either the mounting or lack of loom of some kind is the number one failure of metal lines and often hoses too… I have no numbers to back this up.

Probably accurate. But, at least in my case, the failure is in a spot that is mid-line on the metal tube; an area suspended in mid air.