Power steering cooler question

[da_raabi]

I've always used the white jug (Valvoline?) from the auto parts store. It's cheap enough and seems to work. I have a persistent leak somewhere in my system so I top it off fairly frequently.

I'd also recommend a filter before the cooler. I did this. It helps keep everything clean inside.

For those of you with hydroboost, I installed my filter and cooler immediately after the steering gear in the return line. The return from the booster goes straight back to the pump, like OEM intended. I believe this is the correct way to do it. Either way it has worked well for me for the past 4 years.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I've always used the white jug (Valvoline?) from the auto parts store. It's cheap enough and seems to work. I have a persistent leak somewhere in my system so I top it off fairly frequently.

I'd also recommend a filter before the cooler. I did this. It helps keep everything clean inside.

For those of you with hydroboost, I installed my filter and cooler immediately after the steering gear in the return line. The return from the booster goes straight back to the pump, like OEM intended. I believe this is the correct way to do it. Either way it has worked well for me for the past 4 years.

The Saginaw box remanufacturers recommend the filter in the instructions, and Rock Auto will ask you if you want to get a filter when you buy a new Saginaw box. There’s no suggestion of a cooler, though. I haven’t had to wrangle with a pump (yet) so I’m not doubting that some of them recommend coolers.

 

[da_raabi]

The Saginaw box remanufacturers recommend the filter in the instructions, and Rock Auto will ask you if you want to get a filter when you buy a new Saginaw box. There’s no suggestion of a cooler, though. I haven’t had to wrangle with a pump (yet) so I’m not doubting that some of them recommend coolers.

They probably won't recommend a cooler unless the vehicle came with it from the factory. It appears that coolers only started to gain popularity later in the 90s on vehicles with towing packages. My 99 Durango had a little one for that reason. I believe the bigger trucks get them too.

So in my case, being a 1 ton, I figured it could only help.

 

[Snoots]

I agree with da_raabi. No matter what you are going to do with your truck, a cooler won't hurt.

 

[highdesertrange]

OP is it a belt squeal or a pump whine?

don't use those silly inline filters. I tried one and it kept popping apart returned it for another one it did the same thing. get a proper hydraulic spin on filter and install it pre cooler on the return line from the steering box. yes on keeping the cooler. highdesertranger

 

[da_raabi]

No problems with my in-line Hayden coolers for the past 4 years. Using one for the power steering and one for the trans. Both have worked well, no leaks or anything. And at less than $40 for the big one on the trans, I can't complain.

As to the in-line filter, It has not leaked or caused issues for a similar time period. I did pull it apart to clean it around a year ago and found a couple bits in it. Nothing crazy, but it was obviously doing its job. I think most new pumps come with an integral filter, so the in-line may actually be redundant anyway.