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STEERING
PL
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)
POWER STEERING FLUID HOSES
The power steering fluid hoses connect the components of the power steering system. They transfer
fluid from one component to the next.
The power steering fluid pressure hose is a high
pressure hose that connects the power steering pump
to the gear. At both ends of the flexible hose portion
are steel fittings that are pressure crimped to the
flexible hose. A standard tube nut fitting with an
O-ring is used at each end to connect it to either the
power steering pump or the gear.
The power steering fluid return hose is a special
rubber hose that connects the power steering gear or
the power steering fluid cooler on some models, back
to the fluid reservoir mounted on the power steering
pump. The power steering gear has a steel fitting
attached to its outlet port that the return hose is
pushed onto. On vehicles equipped with a power
steering fluid cooler, the return hose attaches to the
cooler outlet tube instead of the steering gear steel
fitting. The hose is secured to either component using
a standard adjustable clamp. The other end of the
power steering fluid return hose attaches to the
power steering fluid reservoir on the power steering
pump using a standard adjustable clamp.
POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER
Some models of this vehicle are equipped with a
cooler for the power steering system fluid (Fig. 1).
The purpose of the cooler is to keep the temperature
of the power steering system fluid from rising to a
level that would affect the performance of the power
steering system.
The power steering fluid cooler is located at the
front of the front suspension crossmember. It is
mounted to the crossmember top surface using 2 fasteners.
Fig. 1 Power Steering Fluid Cooler
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5
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POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER
TRANSAXLE
CLAMP
AIR DAM
CROSSMEMBER
The cooler is placed in series with the power steering fluid return hose, between the steering gear fluid
outlet port and the fluid return hose leading to the
power steering fluid reservoir. The power steering
gear has a steel fitting attached to its outlet port
that a short hose leading to the cooler is pushed onto.
This hose is secured to both the steering gear outlet
fitting and the cooler using standard adjustable
clamps. The cooler is secured to the power steering
fluid return hose using a standard adjustable clamp.
The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a
fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow
across the tubes of the cooler is used to extract the
heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the
power steering fluid flowing through it. Utilizing a
small air dam mounted to its base to redirect air
across its coils, the cooler lowers the temperature of
the power steering fluid prior to it entering the
power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied
to the power steering pump.