Diy: Power steering cooler
 

Hi,

I already had posted this a while back, and somehow it got deleted.....im guessing with the my350z site change...yada..yada...

I noticed at drift events in TX heat that my power steering was failing bad......so i built this little guy up one day.

FIRST:
Below are pics of the power steering cooler i purchased at my local autoparts store.....about 25-30 bucks usually depending on where you go to buy it.
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0969.jpg

Then a comparison of the stock cooler versus the new cooler core.
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0968.jpg

The following pics are of a flat stock piece of aluminum i used to mount my new core to.
From this:
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0971.jpg
Cut down:
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0970.jpg
to this:
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0973.jpg
- J

Here is the aluminum mount bracket cut to shape to allow cooling air to pass through using the oem green brackets cut to mount it.
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0974.jpg
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0972.jpg
Also, you can flip this upside down to mount from the aluminum bumper beam!

OR

you can make the aluminum bracket sheet longer and then have it bent with a sheet metal brake and have it mount upside down from the aluminum bumper beam.....

Or

you can slap it right up against the condensor core using the pull through zip ties that most cooler cores come with..this one i bought came with some but i just trashed them...

https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0975.jpg
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_0976.jpg

This is just how i did mine...and my reasoning was this - I wanted it to be able to get ambient air circulation being mounted on its own brackets versus up against the condensor core with the pull through zip ties.......Texas is hot and i chose to do it that way so i knew it would be cool air all around it..

-J

UPPER PS HOSE CONNECTION:

Now, just cause i had access to a tube shop i made a replacement tube the length i wanted....... you dont need to do this...

you can easily just remove the upper tube and buy double male end hose connectors at autozone/parts store and then run your hose to your new cooler.... either way. just hook it back up and there ya go..

pic of double male hose connectors for extending heater hose:
http://www.hoseshop.co.nz/images/products/ti_br_205.jpg
http://www.hoseshop.co.nz/images/products/ti_br_205.jpg
or
sometimes you have to buy a coupler and make a double male.........you get the drift...
http://www.hindustanbrass.com/hosebarb_fittings.htm

https://my350z.com/forum/attachment....1&d=1282735347
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_4878.jpg
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_4879.jpg

LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION:
If you look closely, i just reused the factory bent hose and hardline and it lined up well.....didnt replace anything..
https://my350z.com/forum/attachments...r-img_4881.jpg


Or

you can just go to the next section of hardline with a bit longer hose:
- go buy a single long hose, i would guess about 3 feet would be more than enough (measure just in case) and connect it to this second hard line back behind the core support and run it to the new larger cooler you bought.

you can do this to both lines if you want, but it seems as the top line is the only one giving problems on lining up usually.

SEE HERE:
https://my350z.com/forum/attachment....1&d=1284466110

-J

I WANTED TO NOTE:

I choose to do the extra deed and fab the aluminum mount only so air can pass through and around the power steering cooler core when not moving....

This core i purchased at autozone came with the pull type plastic ties so that you can mount it directly onto either the AC condenser or say the radiator, but i chose to take the extra time to make a mount so that air can be able to pass around it when not moving....

OR

you can easily mount it to hang off the front aluminum bumper beam, etc......many options for a core of this size...its not that big..but still bigger and better than the oem ps cooloer core.


-J

I think its a job well done. I want one but I dont think I need one. Just dont know where Id mount it. Want to do it just for a fun project. After you start running out of things to buy for the Z you start looking for the not so necessary mods.

yeah, i hear ya........im at that point at times........lol...

For me i needed this, I used to drive to Houston Drift Events in the Texas summer heat and find my power steering fading.........the baby OEM cooler wasn't cutting the mustard....lol

if you wanted you could mount it directly to the front of the radiator using the pull snaps that come with the cooler when you buy it.

Ive also seen other nice PC installs where the cooler hangs from a bracket mounted to the bottom side of the aluminum bumper support. (search Gothchick - great DIY and PC set up there too!)

This was an easy fix for me......
-J

Running out of room in there for a clean install with oil cooler on one side and intercooler in the middle. Wonder if I could squeeze it between the 2 pipes on the passenger side vent.
Attachment 422335

i would mount it to the front of the oem radiator or aftermarket radiator if you have aftermarket...cant tell from that pic...

but the tranny coolers that they sell are very very skinny......about 3/4 of an inch wide if that...

i used a $30 autozone PRO-COOL brand - "UNIVERSAL CORE" labeled tranny cooler as a power steering cooler for this mod...see above
should work...
-j

Nice OP... I was considering the exact same mod about 2yrs ago :) I noticed my steering fluid boiling a few times here in Chicago over the summer, but only when I ran her hard. Weird thing is, I wasn't turning much...!? I do have 14" rotors in the front, so maybe thats why. Anyway, you can pick up quite a few tranny coolers of various sizes on ebay. I was also considering the Fluidyne tranny cooler, its a work of art, but was afraid of cavatation in deep turns.

How is your double loop/tube system working out? I may just pick the same thing up and hit it with some black paint :)


Zquicksilver

Power Steering Cooler Upgrade?
 

Did it lower the Power steering temps and alleiviate the problem? I looking for a combo power steering/oil cooler due to space and reducing the length of the hose. Any source you know of a combo power steering/oil cooler would be appreciated.:thumbup:

to answer the above two post:

Yes, my double loop here - did alleviated the problem during Texas heat events, i have yet to have an issue....either autoX or drift events.......the drift events were the most abusive to the power steering fluid and to date i havent had a problem..

when it comes to PS coolers - you dont need to go all out spending big money...pressure isnt that high, so any cooler core will work just fine....its up to you.

as for oil cooler - i haven't done one, but there are many threads on them, i would spend good money on one of those though...

Honestly i wouldnt look for a double core........as i highly doubt the oil temps and ps temps are in the same range.....i think the oil circulating in the same core as a PS core would heat up the PS system...... i know on some FI cars space can be an issue, but i would find it easier to isolate each system in case of maintenance, etc..

-J

Nice, I just bought an extra long cooler similar to the stock one but bigger but this looks serious in terms of cooling.

you should be good to go ............depending on where your located geographically and what type of tracking your doing.....it doesnt really take much to cool the Z ps down..

-j

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

what do you guys think about this one?

any automatic transmission cooler will work for PS.. larger the better if you're drifting.

as for oilcooler, biggest one u can fit for Boosted applications and/or track driving. if you dont have any space. you can run a fan to it. and run a slightly smaller core, but make sure you have plenty of venting toward the face of the cooler!

Think Im going to do this this week. If I were to end up getting the Stillen or NISMO, is the extra money worth the NISMO?

well done my friend, well done...thanks.

you said power steering cooler in the first post, then you said tranny cooler.

is there a particular car that you got your tranny cooler from?

like a 06 Corvette C6 auto tranny cooler?

Thanks.........

Ok, sorry if i wasn't clear..... if you look at the first post, you can see the blue box in the background.........its a "PRO-COOL" brand tranny cooler i purchased for about $25-$30 bucks at any local autoparts store (AUTOZONE).....its a general use "universal" radiator core technically........you don't have to use it as a tranny cooler.......a core is a core is a core......i used it as a powersteering core is all...

What system you use it on is up to you.......in this case i mounted it up and used the PRO-COOL RADIATOR CORE as a power steering cooler....

I would just pay attention to whatever core you purchase, that the rubber hoses will fit on the ends.......that makes the install easy.........cause if you buy a core with ends (nipples) for the rubber hose to small or big, then your gonna have to use barb fittings to upsize, etc........


-J

i see a few threads about swapping out the cooler, but what about how to flush and add new ps fluid? can we just drain all the fluid from disconnecting the oem cooler, or would it be better to do the turkey baster from the reservior?

I just opened the line at the oem PS cooler and then opened the cap on the reservoir and let it all pour out into an catch can........thats the bottom of the system and does a complete drain......turkey baster wont suck everthing out thats low in the lines........the oem ps cooler point is about the lowest point almost in the system..

Wasn't till i was done, that i added fluid in the reservoir, turned the wheel a few times with the car off and kept adding fluid.

then i started the car for 1 sec and quickly turned it off to add more fluid as the ps pump will suck all the fluid needed, then from there i keep adding fluid and doing the 1 sec on/off of the car till it held fluid level..........

from there with the car "ON/running" i kept adding fluid while turning the wheel left and right, not staying in any one spot but constant turning left and right......

I have also found that if you run to home depot and purchase "wainscoting" sheets you can put two of them under the front tires and make the entire turn left, turn right easier in a parked position and give lesser load on the power steering pump as your adding fluid......

oh, and the entire time i had the fluid reservoir cap open --- not till your done with no air bubbles and constant fluid height, good steering response with no whining from the pump or noise do you close it up


The procedure is listed in the FSM:
http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/350Z/coupe/2004.5/ps.pdf

Main directory: http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/350Z/

-J