What is this

[Kubes]

I'm assuming this is the hydro boost cooler,however I don't have a hydro boost brake

System.

I bought this 2003 Silverado 4x4 used,and this is all new to me.

Do I still need this unit,or can I cut it out and join the lines together .

Or buy a small Trany cooler and mount it in the same place.

I'm surprised this thing doesn't leak.yet

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

Have you tried to follow the lines to see where they go?

[Btuggle88]

That is your power steering cooler.

[Chris]

You can replace it with some other tupe of cooler

[gmtech4]

Have you tried to follow the lines to see where they go?

You sound like me !!!! Lol

 

You forgot to say " and use a light " !!!!

[Jsdirt]

Yep - rusty old power steering cooler. Just did one in a Trailblazer that runs the width of the vehicle. Huge!

 

Don't even know why they put these things on stock-tire-sized OEM trucks. Must be a flaw in the p/s system that generates lots of heat. We all know GM doesn't spend money unless it absolutely has to ...

[Kubes]

Yep - rusty old power steering cooler. Just did one in a Trailblazer that runs the width of the vehicle. Huge!

 

Don't even know why they put these things on stock-tire-sized OEM trucks. Must be a flaw in the p/s system that generates lots of heat. We all know GM doesn't spend money unless it absolutely has to ...

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I could probably get away with just cutting it out and capping off the lines .

I don't think I would need the cooling of the power steering fluid where I live.Maybe a fluid heater.

If this is all Gm puts in to cool a truck that needs to operate and work in say Palm Springs in the summer where the temp gets into the 100's then I should be good to go with out.

[sahls01gmc]

Is it broke? If not, don't fix it!

[MikeNH]

Yep - rusty old power steering cooler. Just did one in a Trailblazer that runs the width of the vehicle. Huge!

 

Don't even know why they put these things on stock-tire-sized OEM trucks. Must be a flaw in the p/s system that generates lots of heat. We all know GM doesn't spend money unless it absolutely has to ...

 

 

Lots of trucks have power steering coolers of one type or another. For years Ford didn't have a full-on cooler but they had a run of power steering lines on the backside of the front crossmember that acted as one. These days with electric power steering they're long gone of course.

[Jsdirt]

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I could probably get away with just cutting it out and capping off the lines .

I don't think I would need the cooling of the power steering fluid where I live.Maybe a fluid heater.

If this is all Gm puts in to cool a truck that needs to operate and work in say Palm Springs in the summer where the temp gets into the 100's then I should be good to go with out.

For that Trailblazer I just bought a cheap and tiny one at Advance Auto for like $16 after tax & coupon codes, and zip-tied it up out of the way. It's literally 1/10th the size of the OEM cooler. It's not even in the cooling air stream. Owner's didn't care - rest of the truck is falling apart anyway. I could have just bypassed it with some brake line too. Seems to be fine so far.

 

Would be nice if GM used some decent metal in the coolers! With all that rust, I'd bet that thing isn't doing all that much cooling anyway. And they ALL rust just like that after about 8 years.

 

It comes with those awful radiator mounting zip ties that go THROUGH the radiator fins - one of the dumbest ideas I've ever seen. Might as well hacksaw your radiatior while your at it. I just cut up an old inner tube and wrapped the sections of line on the cooler that I zip tied, to prevent chaffing over time. I never use any through-the-radiator mounts. Was a bad idea 30 years ago, and with today's chinese metal, it's a recipe for disaster.

[Kubes]

Is it broke? If not, don't fix it!

I agree with that quote

But I've got this thing apart now so I cut it out and capped it with fuel line hose

Don't want to come back to this in the middle of winter with no garage

[Btuggle88]

Thanks for your helpful reply.

I could probably get away with just cutting it out and capping off the lines .

I don't think I would need the cooling of the power steering fluid where I live.Maybe a fluid heater.

If this is all Gm puts in to cool a truck that needs to operate and work in say Palm Springs in the summer where the temp gets into the 100's then I should be good to go with out.

I don't think I would cap the lines I think that would mess with the circulation and that would cause a whole nother set of issues. If it doesn't leak don't touch it just spray it black with some rustoleum.

[Kubes]

I don't think I would cap the lines I think that would mess with the circulation and that would cause a whole nother set of issues. If it doesn't leak don't touch it just spray it black with some rustoleum.

No no I just added a hose to continue the loop,I should have been clearer

If I had capped each line that would have been a messy error

Thanks

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I agree with that quote

But I've got this thing apart now so I cut it out and capped it with fuel line hose

Don't want to come back to this in the middle of winter with no garage

 

 

I don't think I would cap the lines I think that would mess with the circulation and that would cause a whole nother set of issues. If it doesn't leak don't touch it just spray it black with some rustoleum.

 

 

No no I just added a hose to continue the loop,I should have been clearer

If I had capped each line that would have been a messy error

Thanks

 

 

I think he means that even adding a hose to continue the loop will hurt it also. Heat is the enemy of pretty much everything in a vehicle. So if you remove the cooler than the system that it's for will wear quicker. There's a reason they put a cooler on from the factory. If it was me I would replace it since it's so rusty. If you just remove it and then run a hose from one line to the other then it will cause problems quicker of whatever system it's for. I think you're over thinking things and also worrying when you shouldn't be. If anything put a pressure washer to it to try to get that rust off and see if it leaks. If not then ride with it.

[Jsdirt]

Just throw some Amsoil power steering fluid in, and let it boil.

 

With regular fluid, you'll probably have to change it more often if it's running real hot (most people never change it ... or their brake fluid, coolant, or differential lube).