Replaced PS pump and hoses, PS fluid brown after 2hrs runtime?

[Rumple]

I replaced my saginaw power steering pump and hoses. Fluid level is good and there does not appear to be any air in the system. I drove it about 60 miles which was mostly highway. When I got off the freeway to head home I lost power steering. Had to muscle the wheel to move it a quarter revolution. This lasted a few miles until I was about a mile from home and the power steering came back to life. I checked the fluid when I got home and it looked off. The picture shows what the fluid looks like now vs what I put in. Could the discoloration be from plasticizer leeching out of the new hoses or do you guys think something else is going on? Any input would be helpful.

[JonH]

Did you flush the box? Looks like it could be trans fluid  as that was what was used back in the day. No clue why it stop working and restart...

[anlauto]

odd

[PLY474]

Was the fluid dark before you changed out the pump and hoses?  Mine was.  Probably original fluid for me.  Perhaps flushing out the gearbox darkened the fluid?  Not sure why you lost power steering.  I installed an inline filter on the return hose.  So far so good. 

[tparker]

What do you mean by muscling the steering wheel a quarter turn? Is this while driving or while stopped? When moving the steering should still be fairly easy to move even without power steering. When stopped it will be a pain of course. Hopefully nothing is wrong in the gearbox. Did you verify the pump is spinning and not seized or that the belt is slipping? Not sure how much fluid is in the gearbox, but I would imagine there would be a decent amount in there and the lines which would discolor the existing fluid.

[Rumple]

Thanks for the responses. I appreciate it
The steering felt like it went from power to manual steering.  Stopped or moving, It felt like it was a manual steering car
The steering box was not replaced but the pump and hoses i purchased from classic industries. Drained the steering box but did not flush it. Maybe that is where the discoloration came from