power steering filter survey

[1slickRED89]

hey guys, one of my buds that got to go to the convention was telling me about how somebody was recomending installing a filter to clean the power steering fluid. i have always wanted to do this, i had glitter fluid, it was really full of shavings. i changed the fuild once but that didn't work like i wanted it to and it was very messy.

like everthing else i do, I used what i had laying around, whitch happened to be a screw-on filter mount for a engine oil system. it uses a FL1A oil filter ($2.99 at any store). i had to buy two 3/8" pipe ******* ($.99 each at TSC) to fit the power seering hose on. after just 2 days of running with about 130 miles, it has removed all visable shavings and particles.

i installed the filter on the low pressure side, or the 'return' side of the system, whitch i belive is also the same side as the cooler. so i just stuck it in there. of course making sure i had the anti drainback valve pointed in the right direction, so i didn't create a restriction.

my question is, has anyone else installed such a filter ...or any kind of P.S. filter, what kind of hardware did you use and what kind of results did you get? Lateron, Corey

<small>[ November 14, 2002, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: 1slickRED89 ]</small>

 

[TimboSHO]

Dude, that sounds like a great idea! Do you have any pictuers of the install? My fluid is very pooey, and that sounds like a great way to keep it clean instead of changing it all of the time. Thanks!

 

[sdpatt]

If you had metal shavings in your fluid, a filter is not going to stop the damage from occuring. You are going to have to replace the component that is getting destroyed. A remanufactured rack for the Gen I is only about $75 from O'Reilly Auto Parts. The effort to install it on the other hand....

 

[1slickRED89]

Do you have any pictuers of the install?

no i don't, if i did take a picture all you would see is black rubber hose spagetti, and a SHO intake. if you do want to give it a try, most 'old school' part stores have transmission/ PS inline filters for ~$25 (autozone, adavnce don't have them). it was also brought to my attention that ~98' and up taurii have PS filters stock so you might be able to score one at a dealer.

a filter is not going to stop the damage from occuring.

i didn't say a installing filter will make my PS parts magically be new again, since the damage is already done. i do think it will prolong the life of the stock components and seals compared to leaving the fluid like it was. besides, shavings is a strong word, particles seems a more accurate description. i think that particles accumulated after 160k miles of use, 55k of which i was reponsible for. i've never had any hard spots or any symtoms for that matter which would require part replacement. just a little preventive matinence on my part, thats the point here.

i asked over on the TCCA about this same topic and one guy recomended mecron '5' fluid for the PS system. so i will give that a try next time i go in for an engine oil change and tune-up. Corey

 

[LaTechSHO]

also available and what i use is an inline filter that goes into the return line... it is similar in design to an oriface tube for an A/C system, though obviously without the actual oriface. It is a small filter that is cleanable....and less bulky than the setup previously described....

Louis

 

[SHOZ123]

The Magnafine inline filters are cleanable.

 

[Bizzy]

I was gonna go the remote oil filter mount route, but now that I think about it a Magnefine makes the most sense. It works great on my SLO's ATX, so I'll just order up one for the PS on my SHO, and perhaps get one for my fathers ZX2, that way I can make him pay for the shipping. They are only like $15 at www.bulkpart.com. And they almost look OEM. Just get a clamp and a self tapping screw and mount it right to the fender there. Hmmmm