Power steering questions

[Pinger]

I think I mentioned before that my PS hoses on my 3500 developed pinhole leaks. When I bought the replacement hose the instructions said to replace all P.S.hoses because they deteriorate from the inside and particles wind in the pump, gearbox, etc.

I would subscribe to that, but unfortunately, I only replaced the leaky ones, LOL. Good preventive maintenance.

That would be a good argument for fitting a filter.

 

[sewlow]

'70's, '80's & '90's Impala & Malibu Police/Taxi factory packaged GM vehicles also came with P/S coolers.
They use the same basic Saginaw P/S pump as these trucks.
They do have a tendency to develop leaks.

 

[smdk2500]

Yep, my Suburban has it. Just curious whether it's a better system than the vacuum system. Seems the answer to that is yes.

As an aside - makes sense for a diesel that would need a separate vacuum pump anyway.

Well just so you know the diesels do have a vacuum pump but its not for the brakes. In factory form it runs the waste gate on the turbo and the egr systems on the 7200gvw trucks.

 

[alpinecrick]

Every GMT800 1500 4wd Suburban I've looked at had a PS cooler, and so have the 1500 4wd trucks with the tow package.

I have had two conversations about this over the past year. It seems GM wised up with the GMT800's and started installing PS coolers on some/most GMT800's because it ostensibly made the pumps and steering gear last longer--my tire and alignment shop guy believes that is the case too.

I installed a GMT800 cooler on my 06 K1500 and have two more hanging in the shop, one of those are earmarked for my 97 K1500.

I just installed Cardone inline screens in both pickups, and will be putting them in my Express and Savana vans when I get the chance.

My neighbor down the road (who is a good mechanic) installed remote oil filters for PS on his older 70's vintage Ford pickups that he has restored. His thinking is the remote oil filter both filters and cools the PS fluid. Makes sense to me.

 

[454cid]

I have had two conversations about this over the past year. It seems GM wised up with the GMT800's and started installing PS coolers on some/most GMT800's because it ostensibly made the pumps and steering gear last longer--my tire and alignment shop guy believes that is the case too.

Are you looking at all 4x4s or including 2wd, too? The non-HD 2wds are all rack and pinion, aren't they?

I installed a GMT800 cooler on my 06 K1500 and have two more hanging in the shop, one of those are earmarked for my 97 K1500.

Why not grab a GMT-400 cooler so it would be a bolt in? ... or do you just not see them in the yards? I go infrequently, but I never see much of any 8-lug stuff.... last time I went they had an 8-lug van, that I should have grabbed a rim from.

I just installed Cardone inline screens in both pickups, and will be putting them in my Express and Savana vans when I get the chance.

I just looked it up, that's exactly what I installed: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2322336&jsn=4

 

[alpinecrick]

454,
My experience is with 4wd's. Here in Colorado most (almost all) trucks/SUV's are 4wd. Sometimes I forget that in other parts of the country 2wds are much more common. I can't remember the last time I've ever seen a 2wd Suburban/Tahoe, and about the only 2wd pickups are ex-fleet trucks.

I know PS coolers were on some GMT400's but I haven't seen one in a long time. It seems the coolers are a lot more common on GMT800's and newer. My 01 Sierra does not have a PS cooler, but it's pretty minimum optioned.

I ordered two inline Cardone filters from RA, they sent me 8 filters in a cardboard display box but only charged me for the two I ordered. I emailed them and let them know about their mistake, and after a couple emails back and forth, they just said "keep them". So I have enough for all my pickups and vans.........

 

[smdk2500]

I do know some of the GMT400s didn't have a tube and fin style PS cooler. Some had tubes that went into the frame rail. I don't know if the 2wd are like that though. I believe Schurkey has a photo some where showing the one that goes into the frame rail. I know my 95 with the 6.5 has the tube and fin cooler but I am not sure about my 95 with the 5.7. Its been a while since Ive had the hood open on it and its in a mud puddle so i don't feel like looking.

 

[454cid]

I do know some of the GMT400s didn't have a tube and fin style PS cooler. Some had tubes that went into the frame rail. I don't know if the 2wd are like that though. I believe Schurkey has a photo some where showing the one that goes into the frame rail. I know my 95 with the 6.5 has the tube and fin cooler but I am not sure about my 95 with the 5.7. Its been a while since Ive had the hood open on it and its in a mud puddle so i don't feel like looking.

I don't quite understand the point of the frame rail "coolers". Physics dictates that they must cool the power steering fluid, but I'd think that the amount would be minuscule given that a a steel tube inside what amounts to a larger tube would be very handicapped compared to a more standard heat exchanger design.

 

[smdk2500]

I don't quite understand the point of the frame rail "coolers". Physics dictates that they must cool the power steering fluid, but I'd think that the amount would be minuscule given that a a steel tube inside what amounts to a larger tube would be very handicapped compared to a more standard heat exchanger design.

I agree. When i seen those I wondered how good the frame mounted ones worked. I'm guessing some one at GM thought some heat removal is bettery then none.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

I don't know if the 2wd are like that though.

Here's a picture of my C1500, the cooler came from the factory this way.

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