New Raptor Owner... Killed Power Steering Pump being a Hooligan

[J Higgens]

Hi everyone! New Raptor owner here. I just picked up my 2014 Special Edition, last week, with 156K on the clock. Motor runs strong, drives straight, but as this thread will point out, there's more I should have researched (more in the sense to have beat the dealer down on price). Regardless, I am more than excited as I remember these coming out in middle school and have wanted one ever since!

Now, the fun stuff. A little about myself so you'll understand where I'm coming from. I'm 21, have a Corvette as my other vehicle, and some dirt bikes... so I'm somewhat of a hooligan. I went riding with the boys and decided to rip some donuts and mess around on this hill climb. I attached a video for your viewing (sorry for the music, it's a trimmed section from my YouTube video).

Long story short, my hooliganism got to me and the truck, got home and noticed I have little to no power steering at idle RPM's/Park. The truck needs some RPM for the power steering to work and the pump whines when giving it the RPM. Might as well mention, the power steering works somewhat normal when cold, but gets as described shortly after it gets some heat. So, I already have a new factory pump, and I ordered the linked Summit Racing Cooler and an inline fan switch with manual override. The last piece I need is the reservoir.

Summit Racing Cooler: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI9vKPtvXl8AIVHx6tBh0PWQ_UEAQYAiABEgJoTPD_BwE

After much forum research, I was about to pull the trigger on the SDHQ reservoir. I know RPG and GJ have one as well. However, I found someone here went with a Kartek which looks similar to the GJ. I called Kartek and asked if it had some baffling to help with the cavitation. It does not, but they said they have the Howe reservoir, which does have baffling. So, I plan on going with this reservoir as I have heard good things about the complete PS upgrade from Howe.

Anyone have any insight on the SDHQ/Howe reservoir? With my listed upgrades, am I too much of a hooligan to be doing what was shown in the video? Or should I simply take it easy on the tight drifting, even with the cooler and reservoir? I have heard full lock is what you should avoid, but I was not at full lock in the video. Oh yeah... I also blew a front shock seal, but no big deal as I am getting them rebuilt and set to mid perch.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Welcome to the place. Congrats on a beautiful Gen 1 Raptor. Yes the Howe system is good. I have the RPG reservoir and still have the factory pump on mine with years of abuse at the dunes and beach runs, lol. The killer of these pumps is when the oil overheats and "foams". Air is BAD, haha, anyway, enjoy the hell out of the Raptor, they are tough when well maintained.

 

[B E N]

Before you go too crazy check the fluid level and bleed the system. It is possible you got air bubbles in there (working the pump with sustained G load).

 

[jondle]

I believe the Howe is close to $1000 and is not a direct bolt-on. Unless they have a better kit now than when it first came out, it requires a small amount of fabrication. The stock pump is a little over $200. I'm on my third pump in 10 years. I decided to just keep a spare with me on the trail.

 

[J Higgens]

Welcome to the place. Congrats on a beautiful Gen 1 Raptor. Yes the Howe system is good. I have the RPG reservoir and still have the factory pump on mine with years of abuse at the dunes and beach runs, lol. The killer of these pumps is when the oil overheats and "foams". Air is BAD, haha, anyway, enjoy the hell out of the Raptor, they are tough when well maintained.

Thanks! Great to here that they will take some abuse at the dunes as I am only about an hour and a half away.

Before you go too crazy check the fluid level and bleed the system. It is possible you got air bubbles in there (working the pump with sustained G load).

Fluid level was a little over max when I checked it after I noticed the issue. I'll go ahead and bleed it before I change the pump out. I thought it may have been a possibility I got some air in there, but I thought most still had their PS function with air in the system, just with some whining. I guess it depends on how much air though.

I believe the Howe is close to $1000 and is not a direct bolt-on. Unless they have a better kit now than when it first came out, it requires a small amount of fabrication. The stock pump is a little over $200. I'm on my third pump in 10 years. I decided to just keep a spare with me on the trail.

I should have clarified. I was planning on, and now have ordered, the Howe reservoir by itself. I'll just have to fab up a mounting solution for it. I thought of doing the Lee system too, but I figured I would add a cooler and reservoir first as the new factory pump I bought has a 2 year/unlimited mile warranty.

This is the reservoir I ordered: https://www.kartek.com/parts/power-steering-reservoir-w-filter-reservoir-w-filter.html

 

[nookss_]

Very nice truck! Always loved that color.

I went with the Lee system myself. Even though it's pretty expensive I just didn't want to have to worry about it again but I've also read good things about people adding the Howe res with the stock pump.

Like it was said above I would try to bleed the system and even flush it and put in new fluid if you're up to it before swapping the pump.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

This is the reservoir I ordered: https://www.kartek.com/parts/power-steering-reservoir-w-filter-reservoir-w-filter.html

I wish I saw this a day or two earlier, I would have steered you to the Kartek brand one, which is identical to the GJ Motorsports one, just without the supporting equipment.

 

[J Higgens]

Very nice truck! Always loved that color.

I went with the Lee system myself. Even though it's pretty expensive I just didn't want to have to worry about it again but I've also read good things about people adding the Howe res with the stock pump.

Like it was said above I would try to bleed the system and even flush it and put in new fluid if you're up to it before swapping the pump.

Thank you! It matches the other trucks we have and the Bronco I ordered too... but I may be more of a Raptor guy after driving the Gen 1 around for a bit now! Good to hear people are doing well with the Howe reservoir. I figured I'd test the warranty of the new pump, and if does not last, I'll have to upgrade to the Lee system. I'll end up bleeding and flushing the system before I do the new pump to get rid of any contaminates. So, I'll be able to see if that did any good before I change out the pump.

I wish I saw this a day or two earlier, I would have steered you to the Kartek brand one, which is identical to the GJ Motorsports one, just without the supporting equipment.

I read on the forum that someone did the Kartek reservoir and it is essentially the same as the GJ. I called Kartek to see if it had any baffling, and it did not. So, that's why I went with the Howe because it apparently does have some baffling.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

I read on the forum that someone did the Kartek reservoir and it is essentially the same as the GJ. I called Kartek to see if it had any baffling, and it did not. So, that's why I went with the Howe because it apparently does have some baffling.

The GJ kit comes with all the extra stuff you'd buy anyways, albeit at probably a steeper price, but convenience comes at a cost a I suppose.

 

[J Higgens]

Update... Got the new OEM power steering pump, Summit Racing Cooler, and the Howe reservoir installed. All is good and she is ready to rip!