Power Steering Return Fitting

I'm having a dickens of a time finding a 90 degree fitting for the steering gear box on my 74 CJ5. Due to the location right under the front bumper, there is little to no room for the hose to come up so an elbow/90 degree fitting is needed. On the gear box the return port is 5/8x18 inverted flare and the return hose is 3/8 inch. Has anybody come across one of these? I've checked numerous suppliers (Summit, Jegs, Quadratec, Carid, Napa, etc.) and manufacturers (Plews-Edelmann, Sunsong) but none of them seem to have the correct thread count.

 

You can get banjo fittings for this application: https://www.purechoicemotorsports.c...e=product/product_id=192/mode=prod/prd192.htm

You need to verify you have a large enough flat machined surface where the washer seals to the top of the steering box.

 

I am using those banjo fittings on my saginaw application w/flare fittings.Worked great although as Fireball said you may have to dress the surface where sealing washer sits.

 

Thanks guys!!!

 

Is this the factory installation for a '74? The factory hoses should fit in there without any additional fittings.

Jeep 5351955 https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...41,steering,power+steering+pressure+hose,7320

Jeep 5351954 https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=5351954

The complete return hose is available from Gates. As a low-pressure hose, there's no need to replace the steel part of it unless you lost it or such. Fit new rubber hose and clamp in place.

 

I like the banjo fitting, wish I would have used one. I have a great hydraulic hose shop locally, and they made me a short 90 degree pipe with the correct fittings on each end that allowed me to connect a pressure and return line. They also made a custom pressure hose, as I didn't like the way the stock ones fit. It wasn't cheap, but I don't like problems 1000 miles away from my shop...

 

I bought a 90 degree fitting from Napa. It’s not a swivel but it worked after my return fitting split pulling back into the trailer at the rubicon a few years ago. The underlying issue though was collapsed body mounts allowing the tub and grill housing to sag lower and contact that fitting. Fixing those fixed that root issue.

 

This is what I bought from Napa. This was the return line by the way. Another tip. Pull two bolts from the gear mount and loosen the third to allow the gear to pivot a bit for better access. Unfortunately power steering hoses have been the Bain of my existence over the years. I think she’s finally dialed though.
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/63228/10002/-1

 

It was not. The PO had created his own jerry-rigged adapter to the outlet port on the gear box. It was a plug that had been modified with a 1/2" long 3/8" outlet, that connected to a 1 inch piece of hose connecting to a plastic 90 degree elbow with 3 hose clamps, connecting to a 3/8" hose to the power steering pump inlet.