Power Steering issues

N/Angel

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Hey guys,

has anyone ever experienced power steering issues at the track? I had a blast for about 40 minutes in racing school in Hockenheim until my powersteering went out and the brakes followed shortly after. After 40 minutes cool down I was able to get another 3 laps in before both went out again.
Powersteering pump was destroyed. I'm adding a power steering cooler, but other than that, what can I do to avoid this from happening again?
I have a coyote engine swap, the 5.0 balancer is larger than the 4.6 balancer but I'm using the old 4.6 pump and power steering pulley. I found a 00 Cobra R pulley, has anyone used it?

let me know your thoughts
Thanks
Ana
 

racebronco2

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I have raced small and big tracks. One local small track i raced at is know by the F-body guys that it will over heat your power steering pump. I have never had any issues on the track. Our sessions are only 20 minutes long.
 

dmichaels

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Guess this is one upside to electric steering in my 2014...

Just put in an external cooler. Probably not too complicated.
 

N/Angel

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well, we figured out the reason, with the Coyote swap we moved the power steering tank, bad idea as we now know, the pump ran out of fluid in hard left turns. So changed the position of the tank, installed a cooler and the Cobra R pulley and now the issue is gone!
Hope I'll find some time to hit the track again soon!
 

iismet

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I installed an AGR Cobra R spec-ed rack in my 03 Cobra. I got a hand full of days (7?) out of it and blew both seals. I spoke to AGR and they said the rack was not built for track use.

Can anyone give me ideas to what may have caused this? I assume over pressurization, but why would I be getting that? I just want to make sure I have the root cause and I am not over looking something else in the system that needs attention.

Stock pump, after market cooler stacked in front of radiator.

x-chr
 

N/Angel

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well, the powersteering pump didn't last long, it just died again last weekend!
And this with external cooler and Cobra R pulley...

any aftermarket options?
tired of replacing powersteering pumps and starters on this car
 

iismet

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I am running the same. Something to consider - the arrangement we are using for the cooler is un-shrouded. One of the things I plan to do this year is box the steering HE. It suffers from the same problem as an un-boxed radiator. Boxing it will keep high pressure in front and not let it leak around thus making it more efficient.
 

Dave.O

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has anyone installed a temp guage to monitor temps?
I have thought about this but not sure where I would install sensor.
I have also had the sensation hydroboost becoming slack after a 30min session on tight tracks with high ambient temps
 

svtguy

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well, the powersteering pump didn't last long, it just died again last weekend!
And this with external cooler and Cobra R pulley...

any aftermarket options?
tired of replacing powersteering pumps and starters on this car

Are you also using the cooler in the radiator? My 00R uses the cooler in the left radiator tank and an external cooler. I changed the power steering hose routing and eliminated the cooler in the radiator and just ran the external cooler. At my very next track event the power steering pump failed. I replaced the pump and reconnected the radiator tank cooler and have not had an issue since.

FYI, I installed a used power steering pump because the reman units I got were all junk. They would not make enough pressure to operate the steering and brakes at the same time just driving on the street.

Paul.
 

N/Angel

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I only have the external cooler connected, removed the oem loop in front of the radiator. Can you get me a picture how the 00R setup looks? I guess it is different than my stock 03 GT.
However, interesting remark you make on the reman units, both of the pumps that failed were reman units because I can't find any original ones. My OEM pump that came in the car failed a long time ago.
 

svtguy

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I only have the external cooler connected, removed the oem loop in front of the radiator. Can you get me a picture how the 00R setup looks?

I don't have pics. The fluid leaves the steering rack, goes to the external cooler, then to the left radiator tank and then back to the reservoir.

Paul.
 

mhunsr

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I had the same issue at 3 events in my GT500. I have replaced 1 steering pump already and overheat halfway through a run. I use an aluminum power steering tank, but will switch back to the original plastic tank for my next event and add a cooler in line with the stock cooler. I plan to route the line from the stock cooler, to the aftermarket cooler, then return to the tank. I think the problem is the power steering tank is retaining heat AND the returning fluid is not cooling enough. In between runs at one event, I would place towels soaked in ice water on the tanks and change them as they got hot. This helped to cool the fluid alot allowing me to get 4-5 laps in before overheating, but was only a quick fix.
 

iismet

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4)Assist fades the longer you race:Overheating the fluid is the problem.
Check the fluid temperature immediately after the race. The fluid should not be over 250 degrees. If it is over 250 degrees the heat is coming from an outside source or maximum rpm of pump has been exceeded.Use only high temperature, anti-foaming power steering fluid.
Check for lines or tank that may be near headers. You can add a cooler in the return line if needed, that may cure the problem.

https://www.krcpower.com/ProSeriesAluminumPumpwithTank.pdf

chr
 

N/Angel

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no updates as it is not solved. I will probably look into upgrading to an electric pump during the winter time.
 

budman5023

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I am using Mobil 1 synthetic ATF with good results so far. I flush it every year but I am only running for about 30 min, stock supercharged 4.6 2 valve, and on street tires but our track temps can easily get triple digits in south Louisiana. Crossing my fingers. Knock on wood. Good luck.
 

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