Why is the low pressure side line long? it runs from the gear box under the rad, then loops back to the gear box. Couldnt i just shorten it up or will this cause issues? Im trying to fab something up and was wondering if i could cut and put a rubber hose right back into the box. Thanks

Joey J.

 

The low pressure line, or the high pressure line?

 

It acts like a cooler for the power steering fluid. I had an 84 T/A that I drove daily that someone did the same thing that your thinking of doing and I never had a problem with it.

 

Thats what i thought but how much can it be cooling down? Well i guess its something i can try. Go to the junk yard and get a spare low pressure line and cut and see what happens. So you have no problems huh bro? well thats good to know. I dont think the 4th gen camaros even have that. I know they use the rack and pinion.

 

Nope, no problems. I didn't even know it was like that most of the time I owned it, so I don't think you'll have any ill effects from removing it, but I also don't see why you'd need to remove it?

 

The cooler wasn't present in all years. You can replace it with a piece of hose if you like.

 

Thats the way mine was hooked up, but I beg to differ about that, though.. If you are looking at the steering box from the front of the car, the back port is the one for the return, that goes around in front of the radiator than back into the resevoir. The other port is the one that the HP fluid runs through. I might be wrong about the orientation of the lines, but I am realllllly thinking this is the way it is.

EDIT-
Ahhh, you edited your post, I guess I was right lol.

 

I just went out to the car. The HP line goes right into the gear box, then the return from the powersteering pump is what loops around under the Radiator then into the gear box again. The reason why i want to remove that is because im going to be tilting my radiator closer to the engine. Just how the C6 corvette has it. Im trying to make a custom cold air intake system. This will be direct cold air. So i need as much room as i can get. But being that the return line can be shorten i think i might get what i want.

 

How much did you cut off an do you have any pic. Thanks Larry.

 

Just thought I would also add this, too. I bought an 83 Trans am recently, and it does not have the power steering fluid cooler line, either. My power steering works flawlessly.

 

Bradley did you still cut the other lines.Thanks Larry.

 

I didnt cut any lines, this is the way it was when I bought it. The HP line screws to the box through its special line, than there is another line that is ran from the resevoir to the box with hose clamps.

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH LARRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Your welcome...

 

Most people look for ways to ADD cooling to their various systems, not HACK IT OFF.

It DEFINITELY does make a difference to the fluid temp during "spirited" driving (autocross type use). Go do a bit of that, then come back and feel the 2 ends of it. I think you'll find it sheds about 30° or more.

While it's perfectly true that it's not "necessary" and that the steering will "work" "just fine" without it, it's certainly beneficial to keep the PS fluid cool, just like any other fluid. It's not a question of whether it "works" without it or not, it's a question of the longevity and reliability of the system.

Just FYI, I bought a N* Cadillac (land barge) some time ago for my wife, which has an actual "cooler" for the PS fluid; it's maybe 6" wide and 10" long. Looks like a little bitty trans fluid cooler. The factory evidently thinks it's worth spending THEIR money to put there, even in a hooptie.

 

I would have to agree. Why remove cooling? If its in the way, just relocate it. In front of the radiator would work fine. Besides its extremely small, lightweight, and out of sight. I don't see the motivation for removing it.

 

I think that the cooling lines weren't used on the earlier models (my 84, and 83 didn't have it) but I can't be certain they were all like that. Either way, I wasn't saying to get rid of it, just posting that if you wanted to, you could.

 

I can see the cooling line making some kind of difference but not much. If it becomes a problem, then i will add a cooler to it. The reason why its in the way is because it bends right in front of the gear box. Thats I need all the room i can get with the mod i am doing.

 

He was reading the weight loss thread in the body section
[that might be a inside joke ]


But I agree, if GM could of gotten away without it, they would have to save billions, but on allot of GM cars, they added that bit of hard line to bring down the temps a bit. And that tiny bit must be very important.

 

For general info: My Parts & Illustration Cat. shows the first year for the line as 85 (and my 85 IROC is so equipped).

JamesC

 

My 83 L69 Z28 has it.

 

My 84 has it, but I suspect it was added.

 

It makes sense to be added with '85 IROC since that car had a bigger "road race" intention than previous models.