How Do You Replace a Power Steering Hose on an LS Swap?
With the EVIL ENERGY AN6 Power Steering Hose Kit, start by relieving system pressure and draining the old fluid, then disconnect the factory hose at the pump, steering box or rack, and reservoir. Measure your actual routing, cut one of the two supplied 5FT AN6 CPE hoses to length, and install one of the five EVIL ENERGY swivel hose ends (straight 0° or 90°) — hand-thread it on, then wrench-tighten and rotate the swivel to the correct angle before final torque. Thread the matching adapter from the seven included (5/8-18 UNF, 11/16-18 UNF, 1/2-20 UNF, M14 × 1.5, M16 × 1.5, or M18 × 1.5) into the pump, steering box, rack, or reservoir port, secure the finished line with the included manganese-steel clamp, and keep at least a 2.5-inch bend radius. Repeat for the second hose to complete both the pressure and return sides of your custom LS swap power steering lines, then refill with approved fluid and bleed the system.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Power Steering Hose on an LS Swap?
Because factory hoses almost never fit an LS1 or LS3 swap, a shop typically has to fabricate a custom braided line to order, which can run well over $150-$300 per hose once you add labor. The EVIL ENERGY AN6 kit is priced to cover both sides of the job in one purchase — two 5FT AN6 CPE hoses, five swivel hose ends, seven adapters in six thread sizes, and a clamp — so you're building complete custom LS swap power steering lines for both pressure and return routing without paying a shop per line or buying adapters separately.
How Do You Repair a Power Steering Hose from This Kit?
Because the EVIL ENERGY swivel hose ends are reusable AN6 fittings rather than crimped-on factory ends, a damaged termination doesn't necessarily mean replacing the whole line. If there's still enough hose length within the 5FT section, you can cut back past the damaged end and re-terminate it with a spare EVIL ENERGY AN6 swivel end. A hose with a cracked, bulging, or kinked section — especially one bent tighter than the 2.5-inch minimum bend radius — should be replaced rather than repaired, since the kit is rated to 750 PSI working pressure and 2,250 PSI burst pressure and a compromised section won't hold that margin.
Where Do the O-Rings Go on This Power Steering Hose Kit?
The EVIL ENERGY swivel hose ends use a 9/16-18 UNF inverted-flare AN6 connection that seals metal-to-metal at the flare, so no O-ring is used at that joint. O-rings come into play on the adapter side: if the port on your pump, GM steering box, or Mustang II rack is an O-ring boss (ORB) design rather than a flare or banjo fitting, the O-ring sits in a groove at the base of the adapter and compresses between the adapter shoulder and the port face when tightened. Match one of the kit's six adapter sizes (5/8-18 UNF, 11/16-18 UNF, 1/2-20 UNF, M14 × 1.5, M16 × 1.5, M18 × 1.5) to your actual port thread and sealing style — GM 500 Series, GM 800 Series SAE or metric port, or Mustang II rack — rather than assuming, since mismatching flare and O-ring boss connections will not seal.
Can I Drive With a Leaking Power Steering Hose?
It isn't recommended. A leak drops fluid and pressure, which can make the steering suddenly feel heavy or stiff at low speed, and running the pump on low or aerated fluid can damage it — spilled power steering fluid is also flammable near a hot exhaust in a tight LS swap engine bay. If a properly installed EVIL ENERGY AN6 line starts leaking, it's usually a sign of an under-torqued fitting, a mismatched adapter thread, or a hose bent under the 2.5-inch minimum radius rather than a failure of the hose itself, since the kit carries a 750 PSI working / 2,250 PSI burst rating. Check the fitting torque and routing before continuing to drive on it regularly.
How Do You Check Power Steering Hoses on an LS Swap Build?
Inspect the black nylon braid of your LS swap power steering lines for fraying, abrasion, or exposure to exhaust heat, since the kit is rated for -22°F to 248°F (-30°C to 120°C) and prolonged contact with hot components can degrade it faster. Check each EVIL ENERGY swivel hose end and adapter for a wet ring or residue at the flare, confirm nothing is routed tighter than the 2.5-inch minimum bend radius, and make sure the manganese-steel clamp is still holding the line clear of belts, the exhaust, and sharp edges. Also watch the fluid level and listen for pump whine, which can indicate a slow leak even before it's visible.
How Long Do These AN6 Power Steering Lines Last?
The EVIL ENERGY hose combines a CPE inner tube, 304 stainless-steel braid, and a nylon outer cover, built to a 750 PSI working pressure with a 2,250 PSI burst rating — roughly 3x margin over normal operating pressure. Properly installed within its 2.5-inch minimum bend radius and routed away from exhaust heat and moving belts, braided LS swap power steering lines like these typically outlast a factory rubber hose, but they should still be inspected periodically, especially in a crowded LS1/LS3 swap engine bay where heat and vibration are more concentrated than in a stock chassis.
Do I Need Special Tools to Install the EVIL ENERGY AN6 LS Swap Power Steering Hose Kit?
No crimping machine is needed — the swivel hose ends are reusable AN6 fittings that thread on by hand and tighten with a wrench. A fine-tooth hacksaw or dedicated hose cutter to cut the two 5FT AN6 CPE hoses to length, a deburring tool, a 9/16-18 UNF/AN6 wrench, and a torque wrench for final tightening are enough to build both the pressure and return sides of your custom LS swap power steering lines, along with basic hand tools for removing the old hose and reservoir clamp. The included EVIL ENERGY installation manual walks through hose-end assembly step by step.