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Power Steering Coolers
Should you replace your own power steering cooler, or should you have a professional mechanic perform the job? Power steering cooler replacement cost is often not very much, but the job to replace the cooler itself is not extremely difficult either. For the most part, if you have any mechanical knowledge at all, it should be a job you can handle.
We get asked all of the time how to change a power steering cooler. First, you have to know the power steering cooler location. A power steering fluid cooler’s location is normally in front of the air conditioning condenser and radiator. This position makes the component very easy to find. Following the power steering lines from the rack and pinion or steering gear to the cooler’s location is another way of locating the cooler, if it is not obvious. It is often beneficial to perform power steering cooler line replacement while also replacing your power steering cooler, so make sure you inspect the lines or hoses running to your power steering cooler thoroughly. The lines should be free of damage, rust, and leaks.
Cost to replace any component on your vehicle can vary greatly on a number of different factors. Trying to judge what the cost of replacing your power steering cooler will be is going to be determined by the cost of the part, and how much labor is involved in having it replaced. Most power steering coolers are relatively easy to replace; however, determining the labor will be based on what the shop charges per flat rate hour and the number of hours the book says are required to change the cooler.
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There are a number of components in the vehicle that require outside air in order to bring down temperature of fluids. The power steering cooler will traditionally be in front of these other components due to the overall size of the cooler not blocking out air to the other components. This placement is crucial because there are no fans drawing heat from the cooler and it relies on the air speed and temperature to cool the fluid. If the cooler were closer to the engine, the heat generated in the engine compartment would not cool the fluid enough, potentially damaging the power steering system.
Aftermarket power steering coolers, or universal power steering coolers as they are sometimes called, are coolers that are installed by the owner of the vehicle. These coolers are most often installed when a vehicle is used in more severe conditions, such as off roading or racing. These coolers will often come with simple instructions to attach the cooler to the radiator or AC condenser in order to give it access to “first air”. Caution must be taken when installing these types of coolers because you can easily damage other components by restricting air flow to areas that require it or by simply installing them incorrectly.
Now that you have a better understanding of where a power steering cooler is located, you’re ready to check out your own vehicle. Should any questions come up after you take a look, reach out to the professionals in our Ask the Experts forum to learn more.
Power Steering Q & A > Where Is? > Where Is the Power Steering Cooler Location?
Where Is the Power Steering Cooler Location
Let’s talk about the power steering cooler location. Power steering coolers will usually have very similar placement from one model of vehicle to the next. Considering the size and style of the cooler often comes in to play when engineers are designing vehicles that require a cooler. Most of the time the power steering cooler will be placed at the front of the vehicle directly behind the grill. This is most often called “first air” because it is in front of all other components.
