Power Steering Pump Upgrades/Coolers

Dezertbronco · Post by **Dezertbronco** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:04 am

My last Trip to Barstow has my stock Pump Bleeding in the driveway, I know that some Have done a Lee setup and a couple other brands.

What are the benifits of the Lee and othe aftermarket setups and what are the costs involved?

My stock pump has given me years of service without issue, that is untill i got it hot and probably boiled it over.

The second part is coolers, I was out this weekend and a guy had a huge Cooler and fan hooked up to his power steering.

I dont really see the need for it other than extending the life of the pump while bashing for hours on end.

Last is fluid, some people swear on Type F for the fords and some people use the clear Power steering fluid, what works best for what we do?

Thanks

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:12 am

I run regular ATF in my pumps.

I upgraded to a Cardone sag pump with the factory cooler and have not had problems since. No more whine and no more fade in silt and sand.

flyinbronco · Post by **flyinbronco** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:38 pm

I have a Howe box but I run a stock replacement from Napa for the pump. I used a 6" x 12" trans cooler to keep the regular clear power steering fluid cool. You'd be suprised at how hot the fluid gets off road.

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:42 pm

Type F !!??!!

My understanding is that type F has friction material in it. For that reason I'd stay as far away from it as possible. DEX3 and Mercon no problem.

Seabass · Post by **Seabass** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:50 pm

Oh forgot to mention filtration. A filter adds volume and catches all the nasty thats made from beating on the box. The volume will help with temps to some extent and getting rid of contaminents will extend the life of any system exponetially.

I have yet to install any of this on my 96 but the theory is the same on any vehicle.

tcm glx · Post by **tcm glx** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:43 pm

philofab wrote:I run regular ATF in my pumps.

I upgraded to a Cardone sag pump with the factory cooler and have not had problems since. No more whine and no more fade in silt and sand.

Link to this Philo?

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:09 am

tcm glx wrote:Link to this Philo?

I'll have to dig up the part numbers.

ckymacias · Post by **ckymacias** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:20 am

This is good info, I'm in need of one here soon...

toddz69 · Post by **toddz69** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:31 pm

philofab wrote:
tcm glx wrote:Link to this Philo?

I'll have to dig up the part numbers.

20-6244.

Todd Z.

Phoenix0783 · Post by **Phoenix0783** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:31 pm

toddz69 wrote:
philofab wrote:
tcm glx wrote:Link to this Philo?

I'll have to dig up the part numbers.
20-6244.

Todd Z.

Wasn't that discontinued?

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:42 pm

There are two part numbers. The old number was discontinued and replaced by the new part number.

ckymacias · Post by **ckymacias** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 4:08 pm

Does anyone know the new part number?

tcm glx · Post by **tcm glx** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:41 pm

Philo, does this bolt in?

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:57 pm

tcm glx wrote:Philo, does this bolt in?

Yes, uses factory pulley and hose. No more steering wine.

yikes · Post by **yikes** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:36 pm

tcm glx wrote:Philo, does this bolt in?

You will love how quiet it is T. A bit more power as well. At least mine has more. Although, it's only been in there a couple of short years and it's making some noise like it's going bad.

tcm glx · Post by **tcm glx** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:52 pm

yikes wrote:
tcm glx wrote:Philo, does this bolt in?
You will love how quiet it is T. A bit more power as well. At least mine has more. Although, it's only been in there a couple of short years and it's making some noise like it's going bad.

Right on B, still waiting on Philo to drag up the part numbers.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:41 pm

You can change the pressure of the pump by playing with bypass valve.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:48 pm

20-6244 was changed to 60-7272

300 · Post by **300** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:50 am

As far as coolers, you can probably get away without one on a street or trail rig, but if you push it hard enough and long enough they overheat. When they overheat, you lose the power assist. It still steers, but if you're in the rocks (in Henderson in the summer), you better watch your thumbs because you can't hold on tight enough to keep the wheel from tearing out of your hands. Went to a regular trans type cooler out in front of the radiator, and no more problem. A larger reservoir will only make it take a little longer to overheat or leak out, it does nothing to aid in heat rejection.

I have seen ATF attack seals in power steering systems and turn them into rocks, but then heat and age do that, too. ATF used to be what Ford required in their systems in the old days. Have been using a synthetic hydraulic fluid, and it seems to work fine. The Napa power steering fluid looks just like standard industrial hydraulic fluid in a 1 quart bottle.

philofab · Post by **philofab** » Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:58 am

Shock oil would work too....

Maybe I'll try some of the red synthetic stuff next time I have it apart.