Hi Mike.

When I did a conversion, I ran into the same thing as you. Apparently the VW hose has some kind of restrictor that helps to dampen things and reduces the noise. After figuring that out, the shop cut the restrictor out of the old vw hose and put it in the new hose, which fixed the noisy power steering.

Hopefully its as simple as that!

Good luck!
Aaron

On Dec 19, 2012, at 9:53 PM, Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> I recently had the high pressure flexible power steering hose (goes from the power steering pump to the fixed lines to the front of the van) for my '87 2.1l Vanagon repaired (the old hose had split and I had no luck whatsoever finding a new one). A shop in San Jose, CA made the repair for me (cutting the two end fittings off, brazing on two standard crimp connectors and assembling with a new flexible hose).
> BTW - they appear to have done a very good job & after I installed it, the system works perfectly, BUT there is one issue - it's noisy! There is a pretty loud whine from the pump/hose area when turning the steering (& a much smaller whine when the wheel is not moved, but even that appears louder than the old system).
> Any suggestions to reduce the whine? I'm using a Dextron III equivalent ATF, much was flushed out & replaced as I did the work. The noise is NOT coming from any slipping of the belt. As far as I know the system is filled (but is there a procedure for 'bleeding' the system??). 
> We're off to Baja at the weekend (2500 mile trip), so I want the power steering to be working.
> Thanks,
> Mike
> '87 Westfalia 2.1 4 speed "T3WESTY"
> Palo Alto, CA