+.999 on what Brandon said.

on the track i'd lose steering feeling.. and even drifting when we were getting the engine temps really high (oil and water) steering was suffering.. i dont have an pyrometer.. so i dont have any data for you guys..


but.. MAKE YOUR OWN POWER STEERING COOLER!!! seriously.. its so easy.

1. get traditional power steering hose
2. two hose clamps
3. and ANY automatic tranny cooler.. Power Steering fluid = ATF.

i made my cooler for less than.. $60? hoses were like $15. cooler was like $50. and i used a bottle of ATF my friend had.. all you need to do is put that cooler somewhere with a solid mount.. dont worry about the hose clamps being that tight... i think the pressure in the lines are only like.. 8- 10 psi.. its a relatively low pressure line.

to bleed just crank steering wheel full tilt a few times while the engine is on and cap off the fluid.

 

I'm heading to Kragen to build my own! Cheston, thanks for the tip. Your cooler looks huge...and I might try to get by with one that is about the same size as the Nismo unit. I just haven't seen a Nismo unit, so I don't know what capacity I need to go with. I already have a large oil cooler (that I put together), and coupled with the relatively small intake opening that the OE bumper provides, I'm just concerned that air flow to the radiator is compromised. It looks to me like you have an aftermarket bumper that lets air flow to your relocated PS cooler.

I'll probably take my OE one out, and just take it to Kragen, and buy one that is at least 50% larger. Then, I'll try to mount it at the OE location.

 

I just wanted to add a few quick observations:

-2003 models the stock p/s cooler is smaller than 2004+

-Most new cars have the p/s fluid OVERFILLED from the factory, so that is why you see the overflow on your first track/autocross day.

-Air in the system will cause p/s to go out even on the street

-Autocross/Drift conditions WILL overheat the stock system

I upgraded to the Nismo cooler and it helped A LOT! I am still planning to get something bigger for extra protection, as well as a new p/s pump as mine is on its way out... proabably at the same time as I do the oil cooler.

 

Does anyone have pics of the stock ps cooler next to the Nismo cooler?

 

Here's the best I've got of this comparison. The installed piece is the Nismo, and the second pic has the OEM lined up pretty closely with the Nismo, to show the size difference between the two. Hope these help.

 

Your car must be a 2004+ because my stock one is even smaller.

 

Nope, that's an '03. It might be the perspective from the picture that makes it look that way.

 

So the Nismo is about 2" longer than the stock? Not much difference, but I guess every bit helps. I like what Cheston did with the tranny cooler.

 

Can you explain what you had to do to replace the stock power steering oil cooler with the Nismo? Did you just have to swap it out? Was there plenty of access or did you have to remove parts to get to it? What type of connections are used between the cooler and the hose?

Thanks for the help. I'm headed to get the NISMO cooler and wanted to get some advice. Thanks.

 

i believe the Nismo PS cooler is just a larger core, direct swap in. if you're NA, i'm assuming you didnt relocate any cooler so it will go in the front grille area. it's a 3/8" (or was it 5/8") PS hose connection. just pop off, and press on.
again, you can save youself some cash if the nismo one is a bit too pricey and just pick up a generic automatic transmission cooler (smaller core) for the swap.