I LIKE power steering! ...er, do I need a cooler for it?

[ryans51]

Well, after a few days sweating underneath my '68 (and over and all around) and several trips to the local salvage yard, I have Power Steering. Yay! I've been looking around at the plumbing for the system. Most of them have coolers in the return line. Since my truck did not come with it, I'm not sure whether it needs cooling or not.

So can anyone tell me, Is it necessary to cool the power steering fluid?
Also, if it is necessary, can some of you who have also added PS tell me what you did for a cooler?

Thanks in advance!

Ryan
'68 f-100 ...now with power steering![/b]

[72hiboy4x4]

factory used a small fin cooler up near the pump. Ive seen them with or without, depends on your usage (heavy or light duty)

[averagef250]

Not really necessary. I always hated the ones that ford mounted on top of the pump. The fins always stab you when you're wrenching!

[ryans51]

So then, What would be considdered heavy duty in terms of PS? Pulling trailer, etc?

I think that my usage may fall squarely under light duty.
Is there any advantage to cooling, other than introducing more possible places for a leak?

Thanks again,

Ryan

[averagef250]

If all you do is parallel park your truck all day long everyday then you have a HD power steering demand! I really can't see why it's necessary. The power steering pump does not do much unless you're turning.

[FoMoCo]

I bought a 3/8 brake line and ran it parallel to the presure line. I clamped power steering grade line from the 3/8 hard line to the return tank, the rubber line is about 8 inches long. I'm using a remaned ford pump. I've been driving it daily for years with out a problem or leak.

Nick

[72stepside]

One of my parts trucks has a 3/8" line running through the radiator support and across the front of the radiator. The other one has the small fin thingy.

The one I'm using in the driver has the post 1980 pump with no cooling. The truck I got it off of didn't have it.

It's probably not needed unless you are gonna road course race with your bump (wouldn't that be interesting)!!!!

[MadMaxetc]

I found a little cooler on the ground at a salvage yard that I plan to use.

I am going to run one just in case. Better safe than sorry.

You could run it as is right now and install one latter when you find a cooler you like.

[mjhaltom]

The pump I am going to install on my truck has the cooler mounted on top of the pump. It came out of a 1972 F100. I have a 1971 F250 parts truck that has no cooler at all. So heavy VS. light duty? I dunno.

[ryans51]

Thanks for the responses!

I've hooked up an oil cooler infront of the radiator, and plan to run 3/8" hard line up to the front of the engine bay. I'll connect in the cooler to that, and then from the cooler to the return.

Should be good.

Thanks again,
Ryan

[Wes]

you can run 3/8 steel tubing from the box down the front cross member back to pump, (return side)make an effective cooler.
the p/s system has a small amount of oil in it and it gets hot heat breaks down oil quickly, w/o cooler oil needs changing more frequently.

[ryans51]

I've had the cooler installed for months now, with nothing to hook up to it. I had intended on using it as an oil cooler, but this seems like it would be a good use for it as well.

[ryans51]

Grrr...
Got a section of 3/8" hardline that I bent up to fit the box, and hooked it all up to the cooler. Great. Turned it on. Ok....no.

The 3/8" fitting will not seal. slow leak, will not go away. I took off, cleaned re-installed. Same.

Anybody have suggestions for getting those to seal? Is there an anscient untold secret, (or something obvious) that I don't know about getting new double flared tubing to seal?
Should I just torque down on it?

I need some help here,

Thanks again,
Ryan