ScottLs 2001 XJ

[scottL 185]

Thanks OB1:cool:

[scottL 185]

When we ran rocker panel pass a while back testing Diane's new 35's, theKsmith noticed power steering fluid gushing from near my steering gear going through the difficult section.

Strangely enough, after diagnosis we found no leaks. Running the coves last month for mOOse's birthday i heard the pump moaning again while aired down driving in soft sand, finding a couple more small drips down the gear after we'd parked.

 

First I talked to George who thought the pump could've overheated & called into question the money I'd spent on my "steering bling". He suggested this time around that i call local shop Benchworks in Scottsdale instead of PSC. Took the Jeep to Benchworks & "Pat" recommended keeping my PSC system over reverting back to stock. He said maintaining a remote reservoir system was the best way to go for my application & the pump seals most likely overheated judging from the brown goop caked on the bottom of my now 2 year old pump.

 

So George came over last weekend & showed me proper removal of my pump, leaving me with this mess

I scraped all the power steering fluid off the bracket with a wire brush & scotch brite. Then yesterday morning i took the pump to Benchworks for a rebuild & flow testing. Picked up my rebuilt pump (it was ready by 4pm same day) which now flows 1500 psi instead of 1200. Pat told me the pump should last much longer this time around with the increased flow & boasted how it now pumps 1.5 gallons per minute

Installed it myself yesterday & have "One Finger Steering" once again.

Next weekend will be spent pressure washing the power steering fluid crud i scraped off the mounting bracket.

[ob1jeeper 849]

Scott,

If you don't have an oil cooler in the PS system, you might give some consideration to doing so. Just like automatic transmissions, the oil can heat up due to the added pump load required to turn the steering in deep sand, and especially when playing in the rocks. This extra loading is made even larger, when running larger than OEM, and/or partially deflated tires.

 

Just a thought to consider…

 

PS: Changing the PS fluid once a year (or sooner if you note it is no longer clear and has begun to change color) is good insurance on the steering systems that are used with larger tires also. Just like cooking oil does, the lubricating fluid properties of all lubricants deteriorate over time, and can result in the fluid aerating and overflowing the cap (or the trans dipstick or vent, etc.), which is what I suspect was going on with your PS fluid loss issues.

[scottL 185]

Scott,

If you don't have an oil cooler in the PS system, you might give some consideration to doing so. Just like automatic transmissions, the oil can heat up due to the added pump load required to turn the steering in deep sand, and especially when playing in the rocks. This extra loading is made even larger, when running larger than OEM, and/or partially deflated tires.

 

Just a thought to consider…

 

PS: Changing the PS fluid once a year (or sooner if you note it is no longer clear and has begun to change color) is good insurance on the steering systems that are used with larger tires also. Just like cooking oil does, the lubricating fluid properties of all lubricants deteriorate over time, and can result in the fluid aerating and overflowing the cap (or the trans dipstick or vent, etc.), which is what I suspect was going on with your PS fluid loss issues.

 

The tech who rebuilt my steering pump also mentioned adding a PS cooler. Is there a particular one you could recommend? A quick google search showed "Hayden" power steering pumps for grand cherokees. No idea where i'd mount it but that probably depends on how large the cooler itself is.

 

The old PS fluid was brown and i'd just changed it last July. Will definitely check it at least once a year from now on!

[ob1jeeper 849]

Several Light trucks, and larger sedans (especially "fleet" vehicles, such as Taxi's and police vehicles, etc.) use coolers in the PS lines. Most are simply a tube bent into a "U" or sometimes a double "U", with cooling fins, much like a small radiator, and are under-hood, so that the "prop-wash" off the cooling fan hits it.

 

Most any small trans cooler would work fine, if placed in the return line, where the pressures aren't as high as the pressure side of the pump. Otherwise, if you want it in the pressure line, you will need a better quality cooler, capable of withstanding the pressures. It just needs to be in the "prop wash" of the fan, so that it gets air-flow when moving slow.

 

The reason the fluid is getting hot, with little cool down capability, is the higher pressures created during slow speed steering inputs when not moving fast enough to reduce the forces necessary to turn the wheel (city traffic, parking the vehicle, rock crawling, etc.)

 

Example: Are you old enough to remember what it was like to try to turn the wheel on a non-PS vehicle when it is sitting still and your foot is on the brake? PS, makes us all forget how much force is required to turn the wheel at slow speeds…

[scottL 185]

Would this be good enough to keep my power steering fluid from getting too hot?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13309?seid=srese1&gclid=COS_y_6Zv8UCFQcdaQod_h8ACg

 

I remember my '88 Honda Civic had "power assit" steering. If the car was moving, the steering wheel was relatively easy to turn. Turning the wheel from a dead stop was a completely different story.

[ob1jeeper 849]

Would this be good enough to keep my power steering fluid from getting too hot?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/der-13309?seid=srese1&gclid=COS_y_6Zv8UCFQcdaQod_h8ACg

 

I remember my '88 Honda Civic had "power assit" steering. If the car was moving, the steering wheel was relatively easy to turn. Turning the wheel from a dead stop was a completely different story.

Scott,

That should be plenty of cooling for your power steering, provided you have the room to fit it.

[Bradywgn71 1,008]

I saw on Amazon that there were many different sizes available, even half that size.

[scottL 185]

Scott,

That should be plenty of cooling for your power steering, provided you have the room to fit it.

 

Good to know, thanks again:cool:

 

I saw on Amazon that there were many different sizes available, even half that size.

 

saw some too, you mean this one?

Purposely posted the larger one because i was not sure this ^^ would be big enough. If it is sufficient, i'd rather go with the smaller one.

[Bradywgn71 1,008]

That's the one I was thinking of. Looks about the same size as the ones that were on late 70s early 80s Fords mounted directly on the power steering pump brackets. I think it would do the job. The Ford ones were mounted where they were in constant air flow from the engine driven fan so, take that into consideration when mounting the cooler. At crawl speeds, you may want to make sure it's getting air movement.