Power steering explosion

[Hypo]

At the track today the power steering let go in a big way. There is that much oil that I can find the cause.

Any tips hints where to start or what is a common failure.

Also apart from the EVO I II III does anything else share the power steering pump if this is the casue.

Thanks

 

[ENGINR]

Have any of the hoses split or has the pump itself failed?

GSRSOL had his main power steering line fail on him on a trackday.

 

[Hypo]

I can't find any and I had to cut the belt to load it on the trailer.

I have removed the pump and it spins freely so maybe a o ring has gone.

 

[DOUGMO]

its very common to over heat and boil the power steering fluid, especially on the track with semis
Get a decent size/efficient cooler on there luke, its a must.
Also the standard low pressure hoses are just spring clamped too so it may have pushed the fluid past the clamps

 

[Hypo]

I understand that but I would have thought if that was the case I wouldn't have lost all of the oil. It was making a horrendous noise when I tried to move it prior to cutting the belt.

Will have a look at it tomorrow and see what I can mount up.

Gools was driving when it happened as he hit a plover at 200km/h and damaged his windscreen early in the day.

 

[DOUGMO]

yeah I saw his smashed window, the noise is most likely from the lack of oil in the pump, when
the oil hits boiling point it will expand and spray every where, first place it normally comes from is out of the reservoir

 

[BMGTZ]

the GSR 4G93 pump goes onto the bracket....but uses some different bolts and the pulley is larger that drives it.

I thought about using one of these when i was looking at the 2lt engines at very high revs. I was thinking the pumps may cavitate with the small pullies so going bigger would slow down the pump.

 

[Gianni]

Just out of curiosity on boiling ps fluid. S15's boil constantly. Every one of them I've seen just bubbling away.is there something special about their set ups?

I guess if you wanted to check for leaks in hoses you could pressure test it. But like above, the stick clamps aren't pressure proof. Abs if it does happen to be pump, I have like 3 hanging around mine if u need

 

[DOUGMO]

all nissans are bad for it, they also run a decent amount of castor which will load up the pump more
and of course bigger stickier rubber makes it worse when your having a go

 

[Gianni]

^^^ I prefer a thinner....more natural feeling rubber

 

[Hypo]

Thinking about it now the car wasn't getting the chance to cool down as when one person came in we swapped drivers and it went back out five minutes later. I will put it all back together today than and see what happens.

 

[EVO-00X]

This is an old old old pic before my engine rebuild. Ive currently got the paper clip tubular power steering cooler that came on my original RS VR4 frontcut. Heaps of cars run these from factory but I doubt they'd be up to the task for track use as the alloy pipes dont have the surface area as a tube and fin cooler. They do increase fluid capacity somewhat and would be better than running nothing at all though. I wouldnt trust these for track use and it would be much better to run a proper cooler getting unobstructed airflow behind the front bar, or fit a low profile one in between the intercooler and the radiator. In some competition cars where space and weight are a factor, rather than fitting a large tube and fin cooler they use a smaller one and fit a little thermo fan behind them.

 

[Hypo]

Put it all back together and it is leaking from the top of unit.

Any advice on the o rings etc that are needed to prevent this.

 

[EVOCPE]

What part of the top unit?

My mate had the same problem, the power steering line that goes to the top of the pump had a crack on it, prob from bendin it too much

 

[Hypo]

Ok will check that.

Also what should be on the top? Just the spring washer and the nut or should there be copper washers as well.

 

[DOUGMO]

just the nut and spring washer, the o-ring should seal it inside

 

[Jazz9]

I've had a top line break at a track day. got too hot. It cracked on the join.

I'm fitting a cooler now.

Glen

 

[mymidlifecrisis]

Yes, my top hose/line developed a crack and was pissing oil out everywhere, that, and the o'rings let go too. The genuine o'ring/ seal kit's about $50 ex japan (2 weeks). I went to a hydaulic hose shop with the old one's and brought some to match- $1.00!. Evoparts NZ sell the hoses for about $NZ65 plus freight.

 

[EVOCPE]

Or go to a wreckers and buy a 2nd hand 1 for $10

Its not a common problem, but i see now a few people has had it happen to them

Maybe its also due to moving/bendin the line to clear the power steering pulley abit more

 

[Hypo]

Ok well I went to the wreckers today to get a new hose for the EVO II engine and I can't find a generic match.

Any advice on what shares the same hose at the evo engines?

GSR?