Product Review: Aeroquip
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:27 am
Everytime I need a power steering line made, it's a nightmare. The hydraulic shops around here just aren't in the automotive business. In the past, I've had to settle with what they could do versus what I want.
This time, I didn't want to settle. I wanted the same connections at both ends. I had heard of Aeroquip, and knew that style fitting is what I was after. So I made my usual rounds to the local hydraulic shops...... but everytime I mentioned Aeroquip, they ran in the back room screaming like little girls!
The last shop I went to, they dug up an old aeroquip catalog and sent me packing. Thumbing through the catalog, I was surprised to see everything from brake lines and A/C lines to Power Steering and more. For the hose ends, they had 45's, 90's, straight, 180's and and a whole slew of adapters and bulkhead fittings.
So I decided to give the steel braided and reusable ends a try. I ordered up everything I needed from Summit. As always great service from Summit.... When I recieved my order, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Aeroquip stuff. This stuff is really nice! I expected to be fighting leaks with this stuff though. Reusable ends and all, how on earth can that work?
So last weekend I set out to make up my own high pressure hoses for my hydroboost. I was expecting a big pita, but let me tell you, this stuff is SO easy to work with! I was done with 2 lines a couple minutes!
Of course they still had to pass the leak test. So I threw them on, and bled the system. Fire up the bronco, and........ NO LEAKS! NONE, NOTTA. Now granted I haven't been out wheelin, but at this point, I'm not really too concerned.
Price you ask, well the last line I had made at a hydraulic shop cost me $35 or $40.
Aeroquip
AER-FBM1112 -- 45* = $10.99 x(2) = $21.98
AER-FBM1122 -- 90* = $10.39 x(2) = $20.78
AER-FCC0606 -- 6' steel braided hose = $33.95 (25" left over)
That's $38.35 ea! With enough left over hose for another line. Of course I still need adapters to make it work.
Adapters
AER-FBM2608 -- 16x1.5mm Metric O-ring(hydroboost) = $13.95
AER-FBM2609 -- 18x1.5mm Metric O-ring(hydroboost) = $13.95
AER-FBM2963 -- 1/2-20 Inverted Flare(gearbox) = $6.95
AER-FBM2964 -- 5/8-18 Inverted Flare(PS pump) = $6.95
So the grand total for high pressure plumbing was $118.
No more dealing with hydraulic shops. Now it's time to do the EB!
This time, I didn't want to settle. I wanted the same connections at both ends. I had heard of Aeroquip, and knew that style fitting is what I was after. So I made my usual rounds to the local hydraulic shops...... but everytime I mentioned Aeroquip, they ran in the back room screaming like little girls!
The last shop I went to, they dug up an old aeroquip catalog and sent me packing. Thumbing through the catalog, I was surprised to see everything from brake lines and A/C lines to Power Steering and more. For the hose ends, they had 45's, 90's, straight, 180's and and a whole slew of adapters and bulkhead fittings.
So I decided to give the steel braided and reusable ends a try. I ordered up everything I needed from Summit. As always great service from Summit.... When I recieved my order, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Aeroquip stuff. This stuff is really nice! I expected to be fighting leaks with this stuff though. Reusable ends and all, how on earth can that work?
So last weekend I set out to make up my own high pressure hoses for my hydroboost. I was expecting a big pita, but let me tell you, this stuff is SO easy to work with! I was done with 2 lines a couple minutes!
Of course they still had to pass the leak test. So I threw them on, and bled the system. Fire up the bronco, and........ NO LEAKS! NONE, NOTTA. Now granted I haven't been out wheelin, but at this point, I'm not really too concerned.
Price you ask, well the last line I had made at a hydraulic shop cost me $35 or $40.
Aeroquip
AER-FBM1112 -- 45* = $10.99 x(2) = $21.98
AER-FBM1122 -- 90* = $10.39 x(2) = $20.78
AER-FCC0606 -- 6' steel braided hose = $33.95 (25" left over)
That's $38.35 ea! With enough left over hose for another line. Of course I still need adapters to make it work.
Adapters
AER-FBM2608 -- 16x1.5mm Metric O-ring(hydroboost) = $13.95
AER-FBM2609 -- 18x1.5mm Metric O-ring(hydroboost) = $13.95
AER-FBM2963 -- 1/2-20 Inverted Flare(gearbox) = $6.95
AER-FBM2964 -- 5/8-18 Inverted Flare(PS pump) = $6.95
So the grand total for high pressure plumbing was $118.
No more dealing with hydraulic shops. Now it's time to do the EB!
