Power steering pump replacement ... uh.... cooling line wtf?

[corrado33 10]

My car is at the shop getting the rack replaced because F doing that job myself without a lift. I figured, hey, I may as well replace the lines and pump while I'm at it so I only have to fill the system once. Anyway, here are the parts I ordered.

 

Pressure Line: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=384&jsn=1

Pump: https://www.carid.com/bosch/remanufactured-power-steering-pump-mpn-ks01000503.html (Not from that site, but rockauto didn't have good pictures.)

Rack: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7042156&jsn=11

Hose to reservoir: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4591677&jsn=9

 

The rest of the return hose SHOULD just be bulk hose... so I've been told. Right? I'm not about to shell out $174 for the first part... another $174 for the 2nd part, and another ... $276 for the 3rd part... OF THE SAME FREAKING HOSE. All for hoses that should be able to be replaced by bulk hose.

 

But the shop seems to be confused about the "cooling hose" also attached to the power steering pump. The one that's attached by what looks like a bolt? I don't see that part on rockauto anywhere. What is it? I stripped the AC compressor out of the car years ago because it stopped working and started to make noise. I looked in the bently to see if I could figure out what it is, but it only refers to it as the "auxiliary cooling line," and there seems to be different routings for cars WITH ac and cars WITHOUT ac.

 

Can someone tell me wtf it is? Should I replace it? Do I need it?

[1xshaunx1 27]

What model Corrado is this

[Dox 23]

On UK cars the pipe passes through the radiator crossmember loops around and passes back through the crossmember. Its just 1/2 inch steel or alloy pipe crimped to rubber.

 

Personally I'd just replace the broken part, non OE parts aren't the same quality and don't last anywhere near as long?

[fendervg 33]

It's just an element of metal pipe instead of hose that sits near the cross-member/bumper area to act as a poor man's radiator or heat sink and is intended to provide some minimal cooling via airflow to the power steering fluid.

[corrado33 10]

what model corrado is this

 

slc

[corrado33 10]

On UK cars the pipe passes through the radiator crossmember loops around and passes back through the crossmember. Its just 1/2 inch steel or alloy pipe crimped to rubber.

 

Personally I'd just replace the broken part, non OE parts aren't the same quality and don't last anywhere near as long?

 

The official prices for VW parts are, and I quote, 174 for the first part of the return line, 280 for the last part of the return line, and another 174 for the 3rd part of the return line. That's a total of 628 dollars for a line that can be effectively replaced by a $20 piece of hose and some zip ties.

 

As for the pressure line? The VW one is 290 some dollars. The generic ones are $35. This is a hydraulic system. It's not complicated. Hydraulic systems are EVERYWHERE, and the generic parts should last plenty long.