How did my power steering hose get cut

All:
Today I was going through a technical section and hit a tree. Exterior damage
was minor. The left turn signal lens was broken. Left front quarter panel was
bent a little and the bumper was bent enough so that the left endcap would
touch the tire when I turned. Not even enough to turn on the emergency
flashers. which I have done many times in the past without damaging
anything. The people I were with who helping me get out noticed power
steering fluid on the ground. Sure enough I had a Power steering hose with a
hole in it. They told me that they had helped out a Rover once before and the
same thing happened. I could not find anything close to the hose where it was
cut.

Any ideas.
Thanks
Hud

"Disco Duck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> All:
> Today I was going through a technical section and hit a tree. Exterior
> damage
> was minor. The left turn signal lens was broken. Left front quarter panel
> was
> bent a little and the bumper was bent enough so that the left endcap would
> touch the tire when I turned. Not even enough to turn on the emergency
> flashers. which I have done many times in the past without damaging
> anything. The people I were with who helping me get out noticed power
> steering fluid on the ground. Sure enough I had a Power steering hose with
> a
> hole in it. They told me that they had helped out a Rover once before and
> the
> same thing happened. I could not find anything close to the hose where it
> was
> cut.
>
> Any ideas.
> Thanks
> Hud
>

Where hydraulics are concerned, burst pipes and leaks are an occasional
hazard. This is why you will not find vehicles suitable for high speed
[above 30mph] road use with hydrostatic steering systems. They always have
'power-assisted' systems which retain a mechanical linkage for use in the
event of a sudden hydraulic failure.

Huw

"Disco Duck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> All:
> Today I was going through a technical section and hit a tree. Exterior
> damage
> was minor. The left turn signal lens was broken. Left front quarter panel
> was
> bent a little and the bumper was bent enough so that the left endcap would
> touch the tire when I turned. Not even enough to turn on the emergency
> flashers. which I have done many times in the past without damaging
> anything. The people I were with who helping me get out noticed power
> steering fluid on the ground. Sure enough I had a Power steering hose with
> a
> hole in it. They told me that they had helped out a Rover once before and
> the
> same thing happened. I could not find anything close to the hose where it
> was
> cut.
>
> Any ideas.
> Thanks
> Hud
>

Which hose? There are typically three if you run a cooler. I've been told
that the high-pressure hose connecting the pump to the steering box can get
in excess of 2000 psi. on full lock and > 1000 psi. when turning. The other
2 lines could be from normal wear and tear as the pressures in these lines
are low.