Another Power Steering Pump...

[pillowsoft]

So today I was out having Fun, off Road, admittedly in an area I haven't been in awhile and my power steering pump went out. This is my 3rd stock power steering pump going out during my off road runs. is this common?

Im really thinking about getting the Howe performance P/S Upgrade would this fix my off road issues?

This would go out the day after I buy a BBK for my racecar FML

 

[Dr_Mack]

I have 172k miles on my 2012 and have replaced/rebuilt 3 times. Plan to replace with Howe Performance from SDHQ during the suspension/steering update.

 

[justcozz]

Being heavy handed with the steering wheel has a lot to do with the pressure spikes in the PS system. Last year at Snoball, Cory from RPG was talking in depth at some of the issues with the system and the pro's/ cons of the upgrade options. A lot of the issues revolve around driving styles and differences in suspension mods from what I recall offhand. I think I'd try to call RPG and talk to Cory about your vehicle mods before suggesting an upgrade.

I know knocking out some doughnuts will kill a pump very quickly due to the pressure spikes but I don't recall exactly what else really drives the pressure up.

 

[CarmanKyle]

Do you have a power steering cooler? Ive been in dunes, 100+ mile desert runs, forest back roads, 2wd/4wd and haven't had issues. I have a pretty big (I think its 9"x6") PS cooler which i believe helps. The size of these trucks, bigger that stock tires, and the strain of 4wd, cooks the PS fluid. Once the fluid is broken down and extremely hot and aeriated it begins melting seals. Thats the problem. The pumps are standard f150 pumps, nothing special.

With that being said, my 92k mile truck with a giant PS cooler hasnt ate a pump or rack in 100* heat, 100 mile trip thru the Oregon desert.

 

[pillowsoft]

Thanks for the replies,, I just ordered the "Howe Power Steering Pump Upgrade" all the steering components on my truck are stock I only have camburg uper A arms and 35'' tires.

I knew it went out I was off-road maybe 60mph and the front left wheel caught air and did a full drop for the suspension just front left after that the steering was heavy, I think I caused cavitation in the system.

I'm going to do a flush of the existing fluid and get as much as I can out before installing the new Howe system and upgrades, I also got a 13 line cooler for the transmission since the transmission overheats on me too.

the 2017 Raptor is on the way and my 2011 is slowly turning into a toy, Whipple supercharger and rouge suspension on deck for my 2011 I need the temps of the transmission and this power steering issue to go away before those items get ordered

 

[pillowsoft]

Installed and a bigger transmission cooler at the same time.

 

[Deleted member 12951]

Do you have a power steering cooler? Ive been in dunes, 100+ mile desert runs, forest back roads, 2wd/4wd and haven't had issues. I have a pretty big (I think its 9"x6") PS cooler which i believe helps. The size of these trucks, bigger that stock tires, and the strain of 4wd, cooks the PS fluid. Once the fluid is broken down and extremely hot and aeriated it begins melting seals. Thats the problem. The pumps are standard f150 pumps, nothing special.

With that being said, my 92k mile truck with a giant PS cooler hasnt ate a pump or rack in 100* heat, 100 mile trip thru the Oregon desert.

What giant PS cooler do you have? Pics?

 

[pillowsoft]

Before doing the Howe upgrade, I didn't know the raptor came with a power steering cooler stock, its a combo cooler combined to the AC Condenser.

IMO, this is the dumbest thing Ive ever seen, the AC condenser is one of the hottest radiators and the 2 cooling pipes for the power steering is behind the top support so the power steering portion of the radiator gets no air flow..... Its more of a power steering heater.

So far the Howe set up makes the rack vibrate when at low speed low RPM conditions but this was know for me before the purchase so its ok, and the pump wines under the same conditions its very quiet but I can hear it, I think i have some air in the system still...

 

[CarmanKyle]

What giant PS cooler do you have? Pics?

The install is a bit ghetto fabulous since I was in a rush to make it to the desert the next day. Still haven't had a day off to make look better and change it around. Anyways, the cooler is by Long, its probably 6"x9", NPT to barb fittings. I had the long skinny cooler similar to what vendors have for sale and I could hear the pump starting to whine in the dunes and a desert trip. Pulled that and put this cooler. Like I said before, 100mile desert trip in 95* heat in Central Oregon amd multiple trips to the dunes and haven't heard the pump since.