Power Steering High Pressure Hose

Took my SVX in for a lube service today and also asked them to do the o-ring fix as my powersteering had started to play up again with the same symptons as last time.

They just rang me to say I need a new High Pressure Hose, takes 2 weeks to come from Japan and costs $239.

I have searched the forums and seen that this is fairly common. I just want to be sure that I'm not getting taken for a ride, as I was realy expecting it to be the O ring.

Now, there's has been no oil leaks or smoke, wouldn't this be the case if the hose was leaking?? (whereas the o-ring leak is air right?).

Any tips, or any questions I can ask the mechanc to ascertain it's definitely the high pressure hose? I asked the phone rep about a fix-it kit already but they said can't be done.

Thanks in advance,
Pete

p.s. Why is a piece of hose so expensive anyway?

p.s.s. I'm in Australia