Removing power steering cooler... ok or stupid

[seanm]

The power steering cooler on my '98 Ranger is leaking. The cooler is both hard to get and expensive. I am pretty sure the cooler was part of the towing package and not standard.

I am contemplating just removing the cooler and bypassing it. I don't tow with the truck. I very very rarely have any sort of load in the box. I believe the most was 800 pounds of rocks once.

Thoughts?

 

[shadetreebronco]

There should be cheaper aftermarket options out there .I don't recall my 87 Bronco II having one but if i was running large tires and wheeling every weekend i would have one.

 

[seanm]

There should be cheaper aftermarket options out there .I don't recall my 87 Bronco II having one but if i was running large tires and wheeling every weekend i would have one.

Very much a stock ranger. Has the stock 225/70r14 wheels. The tires are small by anybodies standard

 

[Mark_88]

I've never actually heard of a ps cooler...I didn't think they did too much to require a cooler...I've seen a few oil coolers...and many transmission coolers...but never a ps cooler.

Do you happen to have a picture of this unit by any chance? I'd be interested in seeing one just to expand my knowledge...even in junk yards I've never seen one...but I suppose it wouldn't be hard to put one in and in places like Arizona or the desert it might be a necessity to have them since the fluids could boil off under the right circumstances...

 

[veefer800canuck]

Most of them are just a simple coil or loop of metal tubing in front of the radiator.

You should be able to arrange something with some stainless steel tubing and fittings.

 

[Snoranger]

I'm assuming its the same one the '95 Explorer has... A single tube loop in the return line with fins, mounted on the same bolts that hold the rack.
If so... buy a small, cheap aftermarket trans cooler and mount it in front of the radiator.

 

[PlumCrazy]

Honestly it would be just fine without it in your application....

If it was 4x4 Id recommend you keep it since the steering works significantly harder when locked in. I personally added a large cooler and 2qts of capacity for that reason.

 

[seanm]

I've never actually heard of a ps cooler...I didn't think they did too much to require a cooler...I've seen a few oil coolers...and many transmission coolers...but never a ps cooler.

Do you happen to have a picture of this unit by any chance? I'd be interested in seeing one just to expand my knowledge...even in junk yards I've never seen one...but I suppose it wouldn't be hard to put one in and in places like Arizona or the desert it might be a necessity to have them since the fluids could boil off under the right circumstances...

Ask and ye shall receive!

Here is the cooler. It is very small... 1/2 wrench for scale:

You can see the leak at the box end of the wrench. And here is a larger view to give some idea where it is:

 

[Mark_88]

Ask and ye shall receive!

Here is the cooler. It is very small... 1/2 wrench for scale:

You can see the leak at the box end of the wrench. And here is a larger view to give some idea where it is:

Thanks, the image links do not work for whatever reason...but that's OK...pretty much anyone who has more experience than me has attested to the existence of such an animal so...carry on...

I sometimes (often) ask questions when a vague item is presented simply to clarify that the problem is real...I wasn't sure about your level of experience and you could have been referring to the actual ps fluid container on top of the steering box...which would have been OK once clarified...and I really have never seen one but the descriptions by the others tells me it's not really any thing I might have noticed since I haven't had ps on my Ranger since day one...

I

 

[PlumCrazy]

 

[PlumCrazy]

^Random Google image of a 98+ 4x4 Ranger cooler

 

[Mark_88]

^Random Google image of a 98+ 4x4 Ranger cooler

Yeah, I could have done that...but I've actually seen things in front or behind the rad for various cooling applications...but not anything coming directly off the ps unit itself...

It's not like there isn't enough stuff in there under the hood already...if I could invent a brain cooler for when people get hot headed that results in road rage...oh...

This idea could be make me filthy wealthy...

 

[beachvol]

2002 Power Steering Cooler

Item 5 is the stock power steering cooler
http://www.justanswer.com/ford/7hqaj-ford-ranger-power-steering-pressure-switch-located.html