Originally Posted by IM QUIKR

This may be of value to some. When I installed my TTi TT the stock PS cooler if you can call it that get's deleted because it is in the way. Rather than just removing the steel pipe, I decided to install a custom cooler and re-route the hosing. So what I have done is to pull the factory steel line attached to the rack and modify the line. The line is all low pressure so strength is not a huge concern. The pipe that exits the rack has a natural bend so we'll use that part. Cut the pipe about 3" after the bend and flare the cut end with a flare kit from Auto Zone (free rental). Then attach the 3/8" barbed end/flare fitting to this pipe.


Now re-direct the fitting towards the front of the car.


Now, for my application I have and intercooler and turbo pipes running thru the area so I had to go small but you can buy a used C4 corvette PS cooler and mount it in the same location. The C4 coolers have 9 passes and fully finned. They can be had for $20 on ebay. Hose clamp the rubber lines in and out and bring the return back to the res.



The cooler gets it's cool air from either the brake duct opening or you can modify the radiator shroud to shunt some air out the driver's side to flow over the cooler. Or better yet, install it in front of the AC condensor. The rubber flex lines give you many possiblities for mounting. In the end I used a Mopar OEM cooler bolted to frame. this is better than what the car came with but not enough for racing applications.

Originally Posted by IM QUIKR

This may be of value to some. When I installed my TTi TT the stock PS cooler if you can call it that get's deleted because it is in the way. Rather than just removing the steel pipe, I decided to install a custom cooler and re-route the hosing. So what I have done is to pull the factory steel line attached to the rack and modify the line. The line is all low pressure so strength is not a huge concern. The pipe that exits the rack has a natural bend so we'll use that part. Cut the pipe about 3" after the bend and flare the cut end with a flare kit from Auto Zone (free rental). Then attach the 3/8" barbed end/flare fitting to this pipe.
Now, for my application I have and intercooler and turbo pipes running thru the area so I had to go small but you can buy a used C4 corvette PS cooler and mount it in the same location. The C4 coolers have 9 passes and fully finned. They can be had for $20 on ebay. Hose clamp the rubber lines in and out and bring the return back to the res.

The cooler gets it's cool air from either the brake duct opening or you can modify the radiator shroud to shunt some air out the driver's side to flow over the cooler. Or better yet, install it in front of the AC condensor. The rubber flex lines give you many possiblities for mounting. In the end I used a Mopar OEM cooler bolted to frame. this is better than what the car came with but not enough for racing applications.

Originally Posted by Randy@DRM

Your 285s are just fine. I hear about people running 305+ size tires and those are hard on PS systems.

Randy

Originally Posted by Umrswimr

Appearantly getting all the fittings to connect to the reserviour is a PITA. Do it and take pictures for the rest of us.

Originally Posted by 2000BSME

Is Push Lok hose up to the temperature and pressure on this task? What is the pressure on the power steering circuit anyway? I would be a little weary of the heat on that hose... Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by 2000BSME

why would this be a PITA? Shouldn't everything fit just like stock? GMParts Direct has a dozen coolers listed (almost) and I don't know which one if any will work... any help would be

Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn

If you have a non Z51/Z06 C5 your PS cooler is a piece of pipe. If you look a the rack you can see the curved pipe. Adding the Z51 cooler requires removing the pipe and installing the Z51 cooler in its place. When you get the pipe out you will notice 3 screw holes in the cross member that are used for mounting the coolers. Two of the them are used for the pipe and 2 are used for the Z51 cooler. It is an easy install. Howeve, the cooler does not provide enough cooling for extended track time at high rpms. My 03 Z06 is on its 3rd PS pump and 2nd rack since 2005. You need an additional cooler in front of the radiator to get the PS oil cool enough.

Bill

Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn

If you have a non Z51/Z06 C5 your PS cooler is a piece of pipe. If you look a the rack you can see the curved pipe. Adding the Z51 cooler requires removing the pipe and installing the Z51 cooler in its place. When you get the pipe out you will notice 3 screw holes in the cross member that are used for mounting the coolers. Two of the them are used for the pipe and 2 are used for the Z51 cooler. It is an easy install. Howeve, the cooler does not provide enough cooling for extended track time at high rpms. My 03 Z06 is on its 3rd PS pump and 2nd rack since 2005. You need an additional cooler in front of the radiator to get the PS oil cool enough.

Bill

Originally Posted by John Shiels

My pump would cut out on corners intermitantly. If yu are putting in a cooler make it bigger than a Z51. I went big. Before the fluid was cookin with Z51.

Originally Posted by Dirty Howie

Bill

What were the driving symptoms that told you the rack or pump were bad????

Maybe my pump is bad.....would I feel anything during normal driving?

I have had one rack replacement.....but I havn't heard of this repetative issue before. How much track time are you getting a year?
........I get about 10 days


DH

Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn

On my Z it was quite obvious. It started with intermittent steering during a track session and when I got back to the garage and got out of the car I found out it was bathed in oil. The pump seal went bad and dumped PS fluid in the left front wheel well, under the car and all over the rear deck where it flew after going under the car. That happened both times the pump went bad. When the rack went bad I got the same intermittent symptom followed by very hard steering. The passenger side seal on the rack failed and dumped a lot of fluid in the right front wheel well. When the pump on my 97 failed I did not notice any steering problems. After the last session of the day we went to put the car on the trailer and one of my companions said the back of the car was covered in oil.

I get about 10 days a year also.

Bill