DOUG @ ECS

I have had some issues with my steering rack in my C5 (basically track only car) and I was wondering if others have had the same. I run on slicks with an aggressive alignment, and I'm not exactly easy on the car, but I blew out the original one at Watkins glen. Fluid pouring out of the boot etc.
OK, no big deal, I get an AC delco replacement and after one track day I see some drips coming from the boot again. Not completely blown out like the first one, but to the point where I am not going to take the chance of leaving it.
I have the OEM cooler on it, and I have never had any other customers that had any issues, nor have I really heard of any. So my question is, do you think I just got a beat replacement and blew out the original? Or have others had problems and maybe I need a bigger than oem cooler? I dont want to do this again to learn.

Thanks in advance

trumper Z06

I had no problems with my 01 Z06.... ~ 50,000 miles.

Had to have it replaced on my 04 Z06 @ ~ 40,000 miles.

My Z06's are dual use daily driver/D E instuctor... and I usually run 11 or 12 events/year.

I think Chris Ingle also has had steering rack problems. Maybe he will post additional info.

Falcon

The one on my race car was replaced with ~6,000 miles. It was done before I purchased the car so I can't tell you the circumstances.

I heard that you can't buy new rack, they're only rebuilt ones.

Racer-38

I replaced the rack and pump on the car I sold Falcon . And I just replaced the pump on my present car. I'm pretty sure Chris changed out his as well.
So...I guess you can figure that if you are gonna race one of these vettes, sooner or later, you are going to have to replace the pump and rack

Zip Corvettes

Doug,
I am working on eliminating that problem on my car. I am trying to find a bolt in manual rack so that I can hook up the electronis steering from Flaming River. It comes with and ECU so that you can set up how much "power" or assist you have. I figured this way I would never have a hydraulic issue and if the electronis side of cut out I still have steering.
Justin

DOUG @ ECS

Well I guess it sounds like I'm not alone here.

Justin, please keep me posted if you get that figured out.


Anyone have any luck with a larger cooler, maybe I'm just over heating it?

freefall

Pardon the ignorance - are they failing due to the high pressures generated by the pump due to the high rpm use? Would a smaller pulley help?

DOUG @ ECS

haha, we just talked about that here (since we make pulleys) and you posted this up. It could be because I red line at 7200, although I rarely bring it there. I would have to make a larger pulley to slow it down though.

DOUG @ ECS

Plus I already have an under drive crank pulley

John Shiels

big cooler made a huge difference in temps on my car. Before it was blowing out on the headers and smoking up the interior.

DOUG @ ECS

Your P.S. fluid was blowing out on the headers? Assuming yes, that could be my fix too. Thank for the info John.

John Shiels

http://shielsmasonry.com/pwersteering1.jpg tight but it fits. if you want I can measure it.

Edith was riding in the car with smoke pouring in and screaming the car is on fire. I just ignored her hand motions and never really heard her till we got out of the car. I took her on the Pocono long course 165 MPH to the tunnel turn. Then she saw the cones for Devils Elbow and though I was going to hit them. I slide the car around to her disbelieve. She never thought a car could turn that tight. Needless to say she never used her new Simpson Helmet again. She also she her head went out the window and she could hardly get it back in the car. I never notice being in hot pursuit of someone. Well now no passenger seat.

Akcelr8 N VA

I have a C4 that I track but had the same problems. High pressure at high rpms would blow the hp line and then after replacing with DRM braided I started blowing racks...the cure was to contact Turn One (www.turnone-steering.com). I sent them a remanufactured pump from rockauto.com and they did their magic. No problems since. By the way, I'm not affiliated with either sources. Just passing on something that worked for me.

Slalom4me

The LT1/LT4 C4 fellows have had success with pump modifications done
by TurnOne. The OEM pump pressure reportedly is higher than it needs
to be and extreme RPM only exacerbates this issue.

96GS#007 has gone this route as has varkwso, ScaryFast and some
others. Zpeedstr has his pump reworked with a lower volume gerotor
by Lee Mfg - Sun Valley, CA.

The company will need to know which direction the pump rotates.

Whomever has done the work, the response is universal. Fluid no longer
boils, pump no longer whines. They say that the effort changes little
or not noticably.

Check for threads.

.

DSOM Z06

Doug, My car is at The Vette Docs right now with a bad rack. Can't figure it out. I don't race the car and it has 40K miles on it. They told me it is abnormally difficult to steer and they eliminated all but the rack itself. looks like $800+ going into a non-performance part.

DOUG @ ECS

Linky no worky, but I'll look it up. Thanks


I think I am going to go that route along with a bigger cooler like John suggested and hopefully thats the end of it.

Thanks for the input guys.

Cobra4B

No issues thus far (knocking on wood)... I periodically suck out the fluid in the reservior and re-fill w/ Redline PS fluid. I also don't normally take the car over 6200.... make a larger pulley to slow the pump down.

gpm30236

Have also put the turn one pump in , so far good ,

99BlackZ51

You are probably getting fluid boil that is blowing out the boots. Switch to a synthetic fluid. Make sure you are not running too much castor, it makes the rack work harder to turn the car. I have run Redline D4 ATF (same as trans) with stock cooler for five years with no problem yet, keeping the castor under 8`. Of course now that I have said that I will probably blow out my rack next time out!

Scott

danswofford

I blew mine out recently on my track only 02Z and I'm going to put on a reduction pully. It seems silly to spin all those accessories at 4-7k all day, can't be good, horsepower losses aside.