power steering for racing

[DR-vyss-108]

Hi guys,

I have just returned home from the Legend of the lakes hillclimb in Mt. Gambier and had 2 power steering pumps fail on me,

I have had a few drama's since fitting PWR cooler and fluid tank,

Is there anything that i can do to improve the power steering set up for racing use?

Regards,

David

[beno]

Have a look at a power steering cooler... Hot p/s fluid will damage pumps.
Search the forum for power steering coolers

[duke5700]

Wasn't there issues with the PWR stuff causing cavitation?

Possibly try moving back to the factory res, but keeping the cooler.


Hi guys,

I have just returned home from the Legend of the lakes hillclimb in Mt. Gambier and had 2 power steering pumps fail on me,

I have had a few drama's since fitting PWR cooler and fluid tank,

Is there anything that i can do to improve the power steering set up for racing use?

Regards,

David

[IJ.]

Is the restrictor still in the return line?

[DR-vyss-108]

Is the restrictor still in the return line?
it was, we took it out saturday night when we put another new pump on it, was this the right thing to do?

[IJ.]

My understanding is it's there to prevent aeration in the reservoir.

Did the second pump die?

What actually failed?

Do you run a filter in the return?

[dogsballs]

do you have a 25% UDP??

might be a worthwhile purchase.

[feistl]

Hey mate,

Not sure if this will help, but i set my VX up with a oil cooler from a GSXR700 (Engine oil cooler) and i havnt had an issue. I am also using mainlube fluid rather than the standard stuff.

I havnt done any hill climbs, but have done a lot of endurance track work. (Longest has been 2 * 3 virtually non-stop hard sessions at Sandown in reasonably warm temps). So far the power steering has stood up to 2000km+ of track work (no cool down laps, usually 40 minute stints followed by a 20 minute stop). Oh and im pretty sure the power steering pump is the original (160,000km).

So perhaps the PWR radiator is causing cavitation, or the cooler isnt big enough or the fluid your using isnt up to the task (maybe look at mainlube).

Point is, theres obviously something wrong with your setup as i havnt had an issue despite pushing the system hard for long periods of time.

Cheers

Oh, one last thought... Does the fluid need to be warm when your doing hill climb stuff? Maybe your pushing hard with relatively cold fluid which could cause an issue?

[DR-vyss-108]

The second pump is still going but is intermittent,

I dont have a filter yet,

and yes i have a UDP,

the motor spins to around 7200rpm, pulley size and issue also?

I dont mind spending money on getting this sorted properly, just want it fixed

[IJ.]

Need to know what's failing in the pump first..

[DR-vyss-108]

I am using tranzmax z for fluid, it never really had a chance to cool down between runs either, could the rack be stuffed also?

car only has 39,000kms

[VZ_V8]

Get rid of the PWR reservoir and go back to the standard one. I have seen the aeration that these cause, and having to put a restrictor in to stop this is a joke IMO.

Keep the cooler though!! My first track day caused my pump to whine. I fitted a cooler and have been on 5 more since with no issues with the power steering.

[DR-vyss-108]

Need to know what's failing in the pump first..
no idea as of yet, the first pump was only 1 week old as the original failed after the installation of tank and cooler, flushed numerous times

[DR-vyss-108]

Has anyone heard of Howe Performance Power Steering?

They do a high performance pump

[IJ.]

no idea as of yet, the first pump was only 1 week old as the original failed after the installation of tank and cooler, flushed numerous times

What were the symptoms each time?

[DR-vyss-108]

The first one was just intermittent and eventually completely died with zero power steer,
the second only now works at speed, idling around its quite stiff

[IJ.]

And this is with a PWR Reservoir?

[DR-vyss-108]

And this is with a PWR Reservoir?
yeah it is

[IJ.]

Line flush inbetween each pump?
(just asking as the PWR pump doesn't have a screen at all so you might have eaten debris from pump #1 killing pump #2)

[DR-vyss-108]

Yeah we even flushed the rack in between pumps

[IJ.]

Would be very interested to see some Macro pics of the pump internals if you pull them down.

[DR-vyss-108]

Yeah i will see what i can come up with, its pretty upsetting to travel all that way and for something so stupid to go wrong like this,

These guys reckon they have a killer package for me, unsure as i haven't heard anything about them,
http://howeperformance.com/

[IJ.]

If they do a pump that displaces more pre revolution you could turn it slower for the same pressure, again all depends on why the GMH pumps are failing.

I'm following this with interest as our end use will be simular.

[Evman]

Wasn't there issues with the PWR stuff causing cavitation?

I had a lot of dramas with the PWR reservoir causing severe aeration. PWR were helpful but a solution wasn't found, so I got a refund and went back to the stock reservoir. The aeration would stop within seconds of starting after refitting the standard reservoir, and would return within seconds after fitting the PWR unit.

[IJ.]

I had a lot of dramas with the PWR reservoir causing severe aeration. PWR were helpful but a solution wasn't found, so I got a refund and went back to the stock reservoir. The aeration would stop within seconds of starting after refitting the standard reservoir, and would return within seconds after fitting the PWR unit.

I remember that discussion Ev, still haven't had an issue with mine.

[seldo]

I had a lot of dramas with the PWR reservoir causing severe aeration. PWR were helpful but a solution wasn't found, so I got a refund and went back to the stock reservoir. The aeration would stop within seconds of starting after refitting the standard reservoir, and would return within seconds after fitting the PWR unit.Interesting! I recently fitted a PWR cooler and reservoir and instantly had aeration groan from the pump. Must swap over again to see if it goes away.

[DR-vyss-108]

Interesting! I recently fitted a PWR cooler and reservoir and instantly had aeration groan from the pump. Must swap over again to see if it goes away.
my very 1st pump did exactly this, so i put a new pump on, and yeah this is the 3rd pump since fitting the res and cooler

[VendeTTR]

The stock reservoirs have a vent or pressure release on the lid, do these aftermarket units PWR/ASE etc have this too?

Seen a few of my mates have the same issues from using these. Ill just stick to using a standard res.

[DR-vyss-108]

Howe performance recommend a T/C pump with 1500 PSI and 3.5 gals. per minute, not sure what that means, but would that be any better than a stock pump? I will be returning my res back to stock and keeping my cooler, I will also add a filter and some high pressure lines

[hRTHSV]

That doesn't sound real good, I am running a PWR bottle with large PWR transcooler, VE pump onto a VS rack and rev to 7,000rpm no problems at hillclimb or drags as yet. I am running Holden Dex VI which is what is recommended for the VE pump.

[clubbie]

25% UDP and trans cooler - never a problem even on 35 degree days around Mallala (1 warm up, 4 laps and 1 cool down).

Std pump and resi with Castrol Transmax ATF.

[DR-vyss-108]

25% UDP and trans cooler - never a problem even on 35 degree days around Mallala (1 warm up, 4 laps and 1 cool down).

Std pump and resi with Castrol Transmax ATF.
yeah its definitely the res, I will be returning to a standard res before the next rally we do in feb

[Blown 454 AWD]

With the Mainlube 160 Dex VI in power steer we've never had a foaming / aeration problem.

Cheers

Steve

[duke5700]

With the Mainlube 160 Dex VI in power steer we've never had a foaming / aeration problem.

Cheers

Steve

Is that with the PWR resevoir Steve?

[Blown 454 AWD]

Is that with the PWR resevoir Steve?


With any reservoir ...... so far :)

Cheers

Steve

[GHZ28]

I will just join the list of PWR reservior users that experienced severe aeration on the track. Even with a 60% underdrive, so it is not the pump rpm that causes the aeration with those reserviors. Transmax Z fluid.

Changed back to factory reservior and no issues since.