Does the FD need a power steering cooler?
 

as the title states, i wanna know if the FD really needs a power steering cooler. or at least in my case anyway. i dont track my car i havent even taken it down the 1/4 mile yet, i hope to oneday take it to the "track" (its not even a real race track they just have sprints on the local go-kart track :(). reason for asking is i am currently setting up my vmount setup but i honestly didnt think the car needed a ps cooler, i have one made but its such a pita, would be much easier without it.

brad.

most track guys remove the PS altogether and either fully convert to a manual steering or (for us poor folk) line loop the steering rack.

I've never seen/heard of anyone installing a PS cooler on the FD.

you know that steel line that looks like a Z shape between you ac condensor and undertray, thats the stock one. my vmount setup doesnt work with that, i have a new one made up but im just wondering if its really essential; as if i could get away without having one, i would.

If your going to run power steering, you need the cooler or youll boil your fluid. My suggestion is get rid of it and convert your rack to full manual. You won't miss it.

thewird

I would definitely keep some kind of PS cooling.

I would also keep the PS. I'm a track guy and I think PS is great. I also know a few track guys who got sick of manual and re-installed PS.

I don't see how any track person could go back to PS after driving a true manual... It's like night and day for steering input and response.

thewird

Yeah, PS really does make a big difference when it comes to tracking. My ex-240SX (junked it not too long ago) didn't have PS and driving it like on a track was a WONDER; I got used to the PS that I didn't mind not having it on a day-to-day basis. Having said that, I must admit that by the end of it I did wish I had PS back, just because of I drove it more than I raced it so...PS is definitely MUCH more convenient (in my opinion) when it comes to DD'ing.

Anyways, just my 2 cents!

if you complain about not having PS on a 2500lb car then some of you need to start going to the gym.


i'm 140lbs and i don't miss it at all

Yes, feel is slightly better.

Its also more work for a slight improvement in feel. Run long or frequent enough events at the top of your class in a competitive environment on a hot day and it becomes more work than its worth.

That the opinion I share with a few people that actually track their cars regularly here in CA. You are entitled to your opinion.

btw - My car weighs ~2850 lbs with a full tank of gas. ~3000 with me in it. No idea where someone is pulling the 2500 lb number from.

I got the Atomic Rex rack to solve that problem. I didn't want to figure out how to keep the PS with a V-mount.

Its just one of many drivers preference things, although I agree on any sort of endurance race PS would be a welcome thing. ;)
Also 2500lbs is VERY light, only a 100% track Rx7 would be that low....mines at 2740(with me in it) and thats:no A/C, stereo, P/S(manual rack), emissions, spare tire, ect ect....

I had the same issue when V-mounting. I put a Small Cooler on the PASG side where oil cooler two will be located as well. The Mandrel bend / cooling line is there for a reason.

Remove it all together or add a remote cooler.

i bought a oil/fluid cooler from summit for like 50bux. I looked but couldnt find it. it uses barg fitting and is straight in/out. works perfect as you can mount it and hang it right under the support bar where the lines pass.

Prob cools better than the stock lines

I track my are almost every other week. To give you an idea, I went through 3 sets of Hoosier R6's this year. I go to many different tracks throughout the year both small and big. I do full 9-5 track days with 30 minute sessions. (i stay on for whole session unless I need to come off for whatever reason). It doesn't bother me at all. I'll admit though that I kinda vegetate at home for the next day after a big track day. Also, I have put 30,000 km on my car this year alone without power steering. I drove down the Deals Gap and loved it.

thewird

I have never enjoyed it when you steer faster than the power steering while autocrossing... I would rather work harder.

+1 +1 +1

thewird

the 2009 SM2 Nationals winning autox FD runs power steering. So do past winners in SM2 and ASP. Not sure what point you are trying to make.

Put anyone who has driven no power steering for a long time at the track, with an rx7 that has power steering and they will tell you, the steering lags.

thewird

ah, i thought you were talking about adding a PS cooler to the car. my bad.

Just take it off you'll be fine. I have two buddies who have V-mounts in their FD's and daily drive them and no problems with the power steering fluid overheating or anything.

Steering lag eh. Not going to waste my time commenting on that. :)


Just b/c it hasn't died yet doesn't mean there are no problems. Just means the potential problem hasn't caused a failure yet. Do you measure the temp of the PS fluid? If not, how do you know if its "overheating" or not? Do you think mazda would spend millions of dollars designing and installing a PS cooler if it wasn't proven necessary in their testing?


you guys can do whatever you want with your cars. As Mako said, its driver preference. I don't really care.

What bugs me when people give what in my opinion is incorrect "advice" based on unsubstantiated opinion rather than test results.