is the power steering cooler needed?

[Craig]

I have an 89' sho. It has 152000 miles on it and the engine was recently sort of overhauled (intake and exhaust valve stem seals, spark well seals, cam seal, valve cover gaskets, and cam shaft position sensor - crank gear, crank seal, and crank shaft position sensor done last year). I drive it everyday and am a conservative driver (70 years old ). Its running good.

The power steering cooler was leaking and we cold not find one locally. So the mechanic suggested I bypass it because it really wasn't needed. I said ok and later found one online and its new and inexpensive (25$).

My power steering unit groans when the units fluid is a little low. It may need to be replaced because it leaks a little. However it works well for the time being.

What do you all think. Is the power steering cooler needed? I know there are different opinions on this from what I've read.

Thanks again in advance for the help. You have helped me several times through the years.

Craig Tussey in Kentucky

 

[zoomlater]

I have seen power steering fluid boiling at the Seattle convention track day. It wasn't a hot day at all, in the 60's. I was surprised as I never seen that before.

 

[yaycandy]

You could always add an aftermarket. May be better designed also. You can get a tranny cooler cheap and hook it to the return line of the steering because of pressure

 

[yamahaSHO]

I've boiled fluid on track as well... Also not a hot day. Cold, actually. I also vote for adapting a different, better cooler.

 

[RonPorter]

Hayden 1009. Been around forever, and is virtually identical to the stock unit.

https://www.summitracing.com/search...Match&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=Hayden 1009

I'm 70 now, and I could cook fluid in anything! Fried my PS system in my SVT Focus a few years ago, as the wimpy factory PS cooler couldn't keep up. Added one of these 1009s, and all was good. I also used this 1009 on my white 89 SHO a few years back.

 

[Craig]

Thanks for your replies everyone and the pointer to a good cooler. ct in Kentucky

 

[BaySHO Performance]

I'd say keep the cooler as Ford had a reason to include one.

I've worked on over 250 SHOs in the last 20 years. I've only had one case where the cooler was leaking. I have, however, seen dozens of coolers where the hoses have been leaking. They shrink and get hard over time, and the spring clamps no longer work. If you can rotate the hoses by hand, replace with screw clamps.