Brass union on power steering line

[Baker7888]

For my high pressure line with my LT1 swap I took a new line from the G body steering side and a new line for the LT1 pump side and joined the two by double flaring each cut end and joining in the middle with a brass union. It has been in service a while now with no leaks but in doing another project i have been researching the do’s and don’ts of power steering and did not realize how much line pressure they can have.
I am still not aware what is and isn’t acceptable as I have read all kinds of opinion and some of it is contradicting. So what is the line pressure on our G bodies and is it ok to use a brass union? (NOT a compression fitting but a union with two double flared hard lines) Being in service as long as it has I doubt it would spring a leak now but just want to be safe. I remember trying to find a hydraulic hose place that could build me a line and I was unsuccessful.

 

[69hurstolds]

If they're quality fittings, they should be ok. If they're really thin-walled, then look for something different.

I was under the impression they made hose adapter fittings that allowed you to simply adapt one type of hose to the steering box. Check out some of the PS companies, like Lee and others.

You can also go with AN fittings, they make a slew of those adapters out there as well. But if you do, again, always get quality fittings. Chinesium stuff might be a coin flip.

Pressures are typically around 100 psi or less just recirculating, but can reach 1300 plus. Brass fittings typically can hold somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 to 3000 psi, so you can be good. Again, quality fittings.

 

[Baker7888]

If they're quality fittings, they should be ok. If they're really thin-walled, then look for something different.

I was under the impression they made hose adapter fittings that allowed you to simply adapt one type of hose to the steering box. Check out some of the PS companies, like Lee and others.

You can also go with AN fittings, they make a slew of those adapters out there as well. But if you do, again, always get quality fittings. Chinesium stuff might be a coin flip.

Pressures are typically around 100 psi or less just recirculating, but can reach 1300 plus. Brass fittings typically can hold somewhere in the neighborhood of 2500 to 3000 psi, so you can be good. Again, quality fittings.

Thanks for the info. AN fittings is what got me wondering about this in the first place, as i planned on using AN fittings for the steering line on another project I have going on right now. I thought AN would be fine until I read the hose likes to blow off the fitting, also read aluminum fittings shouldnt be used on power steering, and then both hose and fitting are under the burst rating of power steering system. Again just stuff that I read on the internet, Im sure a lot of people are using AN and I wanted to as well but then changed my plans after reading some of what’s out there.

 

[69hurstolds]

You have to use AN fittings and hoses rated for those PS pressures. Typically, the "make your own" hoses aren't that.