Power steering coolers

[Vash744]

So yesterday I broke the power steering coolers by accident. They leaked mad fluid everywhere. How easy is it to replace it? I have a parts car, but the coolers on it is bent. For right now I put on a bandaid (cut off the broken cooler and connected the pipes via a rubber hose).

Should I repair it? Worked just fine until I broke it. Or should I take this as a unexpected start on a power steering delete?

[Tippey764]

Its really your choice, do you want to fix it or do you not want to fix it?

[deevergote]

Basically, if it's not easy to fix, then you're deleting it...

Your definition of "easy" is yours, and yours alone. I know guys that think a transmission rebuild is easy... yet I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Look at your car. Look at a manual. Decide for yourself which operation (and which final result) you can deal with. That, or take it to someone. The hardest part about that is writing a check (I often find that part to be too difficult, personally...)

[C91BLX7]

Sound like you fixed it, leave it.

[Vash744]

Sound like you fixed it, leave it.

lol, Im leaving a snail trail right now though. Leaking constantly.

I kinda want the power steering back, I do miss it. Manual is fun, not so much when you come to a stop :\

Eff I really dont want to do this. Maybe Ill get the part from pick and pull and find how much it would be for someone to do it....but I really dont want to pay for it. If it wasnt so hard to get to I wouldnt mind doing it myself.

[sin2k5]

You can actually delete the p/s oil cooler itself and retain p/s. There are cars that don't even have coolers -- this is observation coming from a Subaru tech buddy of mine. Realistically... I'm not even sure how hot the fluid gets, if hot at all

With that said, we were working on a CB and cut the p/s cooler lines, deleted it, and had direct hoses to reservoir and pump. Keep in mind... my friend's whole p/s system was failing and was being overhauled anyway
(hose leaks, p/s belt, kinked lines, stripped thread on crossmember, rack and pinion, inner/outer tie rods, wheel etc!!!)
so it was a test method. It also cleans up the bay



1 Month later -- his p/s still runs fine. No noticable difference.
In your case... why not try it before deleting the entire system? You are committed once you cut the hard lines though!

Now someone is going to tell me that Honda designs things for a reason... and I won't argue that. So if anyone knows the science behind these coolers... I'm still curious.

I would say.. hard driving or even auto-crossing or something might burn up the p/s pump? We'll see. Rebuilding the pump is easy anyway.

[djcaz_aom]

Is your car auto or 5 speed?

If it is a 5 speed and has an after market radiator, just lengthen the two lines that went to the cooler, to the unused auto transmission cooler in the radiator. Problem solved.

If not, source another cooler from a junk car.