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Power steering coolers

Do you run a power steering cooler?

  • Total voters
    57
Hogback Fabrication

Hogback Fabrication

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I've seen many trucks lose steering because their steering fluid boiled over or simply got too hot to work anymore.

Blazer Bash is always tough on steering and made me think of this, high traction and high temps will heat up the steering in a hurry.

Who runs a power steering cooler?
 
i have some overkill and havnt used it yet this is what im gonna use (since i no one bought it)

001-30.jpg
 
I voted nekkid. Because I have not run my combo yet. But I have a stacked plate cooler just for the steering. We installed one on a buddies Jeep (just a tub) chevy running gear and the difference was worth it.
 
I've seen a few rigs have problems because of coolers, was a flow thing I think. I don't have one but plan on getting an inline frame mount style
 
I'm not running one now but need one badly. My stock push-pull system boils over regularly when offroad. There are lots of turns up here in the WA forest. I have one on the way courtesy of ebay.

heatsink.JPG
 
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I have the same cooler as twoslo4fiveo but without the fan. Just having the extra volume makes a world of difference
 
38377k5 said:
Blazer Bash is always tough on steering and made me think of this, high traction and high temps will heat up the steering in a hurry.
Click to expand...

I had trouble with my steering at last years Bash and I'm fixing to get one put on. I don't know much about the brands and how much volume should be enough so I'll keep an eye on this and learn from it.

EDIT: I had trouble with my steering mainly because I didn't have hydro assist... but yeah, the fluid did get hot though.
 
BadAss90K5 said:
I had trouble with my steering at last years Bash and I'm fixing to get one put on. I don't know much about the brands and how much volume should be enough so I'll keep an eye on this and learn from it.

EDIT: I had trouble with my steering mainly because I didn't have hydro assist... but yeah, the fluid did get hot though.
Click to expand...

Transmission coolers work really well, many of them have 3/8" connections which are the same size as the steering fluid return line.


Initially I ran a smallish (maybe 6"x2"x1") steering cooler from an old Mach 1 Mustang, my steering still got pretty hot (I have hydro assist).

Then I switched to a stand alone transmission cooler from a Saturn (got it for free) and my steering stays very cool now.
 
I've ran trans cooler for a PS cooler for a couple of years and I don't wheel in any real heat. It helps.
 
38377k5 said:
Transmission coolers work really well, many of them have 3/8" connections which are the same size as the steering fluid return line.
Click to expand...


I am running a trans cooler and a large spin-on filter for the power steering system on the build in my sig. The filter obviously filters, but also adds fluid capacity which also helps keep temps down.
 
I run a small transmission cooler about 6"x12" on the return line of the steering system. I have never had a overheating or boiling problem, I do have full hydro though and I run AW46 hydraulic oil.
 
mosesburb said:
I am running a trans cooler and a large spin-on filter for the power steering system on the build in my sig. The filter obviously filters, but also adds fluid capacity which also helps keep temps down.
Click to expand...

Is that an external filter intended for trans fluid or specifically for PS fluid?
 
So where are people mounting these after market PS coolers? I currently have a factory engine oil cooler on the driver side of the radiator and the same size and type trans cooler on the passenger side of the radiator (both up front of the radiator) and the factory PS tube cooler which resides under the radiator support (can't see that getting much air in that position) not that it matters since there isn't any kind of heat sink used anyways. But where would you mount a trans cooler for the PS if you have the coolers i have up front already?
 
What i was getting at is there is no more room in front of the radiator since i have an engine cooler AND a trans cooler up front. I suppose if there is enough room i could just mount another stacked plate cooler where the factory PS cooler is and if nothing else it will just add more capacity than it currently has.
 
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