Thanks Jordan 
With our trip time almost here I think I will do as you suggest and it will give me a better idea of the condition of the hoses. If all looks ok then I can address this after getting back from northwest Canada.
Dennis J

Dennis Jowell
Scotch Hollow Farm
Newbury, Vermont 

> On Apr 15, 2016, at 11:40 AM, JordanVw@aol.com wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 4/15/2016 6:26:29 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM writes:
> Being under my Westy I noticed that the metal power steering hoses look fairly rusted. Is there a way to confirm that the hoses should be changed?
> ive never seen a east coast vanagon that didn't have rusty PS lines..esprcially near the RR wheel area. Usually its just scaly surface rust.   if theyre compromised, they will be leaking  and youll need to repair the damaged areas... in the past ive just spliced in hi pressure rubber hydraulic hose in the compromised areas and its been good to go...   Otherwise if theyre not leaking, and just look ugly,  id  just rough them up with a scotchbrite pad and spray the lines with a can of rustoleum or some other preservative paint and you should be fine.
>  
> remember the early vanagons didn't even have power steering...