Braunbeck

iTrader: (4)

I just did this today since I was having issues with the factory P/S cooler and my radiator. I used the same style one that LS6427 did and mounted in the same area. I didn't need any extra hose since the NAPA cooler I purchased came with hose, worm clamps and tie downs. I used the supplied tie down on one side and a zip tie on the other to hold it in place and it ain't going anywhere. I did have a hard time finding the upper hose, none of the local auto stores carried it but could order it, I lucked out and had to drive a 35 mile round trip to a Napa that had it in stock, as well as the cooler. I got a discount on the setup which was cool; the NAPA ultra cooler was $27 and the hose was $18. I probably could have saved money ordering it online, but I was sick of the whole situation since it's been well over a year since this started and wanted to fix it on my day off. Took about 35-40 minutes total from start to clean up. I'm a big dude, the hardest part is getting my arms and hands up under the car and on the hose coming off the reservoir. I found it was easier to take the upper radiator hose off and then pull up and disconnect the lines. I also unbolted the ABS setup so I could get an extra inch of room to move around.

This was a good fix for me and we'll see over time how it holds up, the stock setup lasted 10 years.

Later

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Had any evidence of cross migration between the two? I mean as far as PS in coolant and vice-versa?

Braunbeck

iTrader: (4)

I did, it started with evidence of water or contamination in the P/S fluid. So I flushed the system and sure enough it came back right away. I also had signs of it in my radiator (water), I could smell it and could see it once the motor cooled and I was topping it off.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Edit- Thanks- lots of good info in here!

Well, Autozone was out of the PS coolers they had advertised. I ordered it and had it sent to my house, so it's on it's way. I just can't wait for Wednesday to get here so I get all this **** tore apart, flushed, and fixed.

Guys, please take a look at this thread when you get the chance and let me know what you think. I need some suggestions.

iraqi devil

i am trying to delete the stock power steering cooler , there are two lines going to it..i want to replace that hose with the solid rubber upper radiator hose, what do i do with the two lines, where do they go, or do i just put them together?

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Well, I just did this last night, along with my water pump. Hey, 95 bucks from Advance with a lifetime warranty.... can't beat it.

I had a murder / suicide the night before last in my driveway. After a 2 1/2 hour stand-off spanning 4 parishes and 164 miles, my waterpump took it's own life, but not before murdering my serpentine belt. He was 134,000......

In other news-

New coolant hoses went on no problem. Getting the old ones off was a different story. Removed radiator and cut them off and flushed radiator with hose. Removed AC condenser.... more on that in a minute. (did water pump at this time) Took off both small PS lines and let hang.

Got under car and mock fitted PS cooler. Well, for some reason, my PS line (from rack, one with metal built onto it) was NOT long enough to reach the cooler. It was about 6 inches too short. WTF? Nobody mentioned that in any write-up. The one from the reservoir got tossed, as I used the supplied line that came with the cooler. I had to run to the store and get a 3/8" nippled fitting to splice together to the hose to make it work.

Long story short, after the fiasco of getting it to fit and using a lot of colorful language , it worked well. I opted to not cut the lip of the lower air dam. I see mostly interstate with this car and wasn't concerned with extra airflow.

I did see a lot of evidence of contamination, but not in the coolant. I had a bit of "gook" in my PS reservoir though, old coolant. Pump whine went away after a good flush too.

All in all, I'm happy, but wonder if my hose not reaching is an isolated incident or what?

Here's why I opted to remove the condenser and not reinstall.....



I think I'm missing part of my compressor.....

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Thats weird....I had too much length. But I did have a factory power steering cooler. I had plenty. The only line I replaced was the one going back to the reservoir, just as preventative maintenance.

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dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

Hopefully I used the right line then.....

Well hell, it had to be. It was one of the two that came off the factory cooler, and it wasn't going to the reservoir, so.... Oh well. That's MY luck, as always.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Well, you actually can't mess it up. Hook up one line to a port on the aftermarket cooler and hook the other line to the other port....can't mess up. It'll flow back to the reservoir no matter what.

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LaBLKv6Z

iTrader: (13)

I think I used the new hose that came with the cooler on one end and the original hose on the other end. Where did you mount yours? I mounted mine towards the driver side with the lines pointed towards the outside of the car. (dr whigham)

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

And that's EXACTLY how I did mine. I was going to take a picture of the shorter line and post here, but I was covered in coolant, grease, PS fluid, and frustration. I noticed the metal portion of the line was almost "pre-bent" to kinda wrap around the alternator. I was going to bend it to help, but I figured it best not to, and with my luck, it would have bent too much and crimped the damned thing in half.

I got Autozone's "Compressor Works/Power Steering Oil Cooler Part # 911009. Do you guys think it's too small? Its not a 4 rib like LS6427's. It's a 2. I just liked it cause it fit really well.

LaBLKv6Z

iTrader: (13)

I have a two rib one from O'reilly's and it seems to be working ok. I'll take a pic of my setup sometime next week.

Braunbeck

iTrader: (4)

Mine seemed to be short, but I re-routed it for a direct line and mounted the cooler so the line going in was the line going to the rack and the longer hose from the kit was used on the other end closer to the front of the car. Hope that made sense

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

I appreciate the responses guys, and to the OP, I feel like an *******, as I've kinda taken over the thread. It's just a good thread in general though and a lot of people probably STILL have no idea about doing this mod. It's safety for your motor and PS pump, that's for sure.

One of these days, I'll track down a different and more efficient cooler, that tucks nicely and almost appears stock. For the time being though, this seems to be working well.

Thanks guys for all the guidance and help.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

No worries. I was just hurt that you didn't choose the same rail cooler cooler I used. I thought it looks pretty stock? The hoses are also plenty long to reach it since its closer to the rack.

The rail cooler is still doing great. In the fall, I'll post a picture for its first birthday to show the wear and tear.

dr_whigham

iTrader: (49)

I actually tried to track it down, but couldn't, so I ordered this one (My local autozone had it as a special order only), then I found it, but was on a time constraint and had to use what I had.

I agree though, yours absolutely looks the best and cleanest, and I'll updrade one of these days.

1 yr birthday, LOL

LaBLKv6Z

iTrader: (13)

Best shots I could get without jacking the car up.

Braunbeck

iTrader: (4)

Pics of my handy work:


Cooler placement, the stock line is closest to the front of the car, stock line is closer to engine.



You can see the lines, kinda.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Nice - please post back with how things go with these coolers. If you get a chance, it would be great if you could take the temperature of the inlet and outlet pipes of the coolers after you park the car some time.

The one I installed has larger fins and is intended to be installed outside of air flow. I'm wondering how the transmission coolers with thinner fins do behind the air dam?

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

That looks familiar.........

Cut a slot so ram air can get to it........I'm thinking the cooler is sitting behind the air dam in dead "almost" static air.

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