DIY: Stillen Power Steering Cooler
 

Well, I finally got it installed yesterday (JB1 also gave me a hand). It was a simple install as the Stillen kit is very complete. The toughest part is just removing the OEM hoses.

Stillen has decent instructions but crappy pics.

The steps:

1) Remove front fascia (undertray can stay if you want)

2) Unscrew stock steering cooler so it will hang down to make draining the system easier.

3) Remove one hose from the stock cooler and drain the fluid into a catch can.

4) Remove the second hose from the stock cooler, save or discard the stock cooler.

5) Looking at the front of the car, you'll see the stock steering hoses pass through a holder before turing toward the rear of the car. Remove the hose attached to the aluminum tubing at the bracket. The other hose passes through the bracket before connecting to aluminum tubing. You'll remove this hose where it first meets the aluminum tubing as well (but beyond the bracket). Once it's disconnected, slide it through the bracket to take it out.
***Detaching the wiper fluid reservoir is helpful for gaining access to the second hose end. Just undo the three mounting screws, slide it out of the filler neck, and zip tie it to a nearby hole to support it. You WON'T have to disconnect all the tubes/electronics to it.

6) Mount the Stillen steering cooler in the same location as the stock cooler. Assemble your fittings so you can measure hose lengths (hose supplied by Stillen).

7) Cut your two hose lengths. Lubricate the ends of the aluminum tubing and the cooler fittings. Slide the hoses onto the fittings and route the second hose through the holder bracket and onto the aluminum tubing.

8) Stillen only included two hose band clamps. Either purchase two more or use zip ties to hold the hoses in place. Don't crush the aluminum tubing!

9) Fill the steering reservoir with your new fluid (I went with Redline power steering fluid). You can fill it to the brim as the level will drop as you purge the system. It required just under one quart.

10) With the ignition 'ON' but the motor off, turn the wheel full lock left and right, holding at full lock on each side for 3-5 seconds. A second person is helpful to watch for bubbling (your'e purging the air and filling the cooler) and refill the fluid reservoir.

11) Once the bubbling stops and the level remains stable as you turn lock to lock, start the engine and repeat. If things remain quiet, bubble free, and the fluid level stable....you're done. Check for leaks!

Photos:
1. Hose run. Note the longer hose attaches to the stock aluminum tubing AFTER running through the anchoring bracket. Hose band clamps work best for securing the tubes.
2. The new cooler in place. Heater hose was placed over the one hose so it could be secured to the corner of the cooler without chaffing.

Any improvements you have felt? Can you feel any difference?
Thanks for the DIY lol
Rep+

Naw, nothing noticeable. My main motivation was from an experience last summer. I was at a track day in 85F heat. After a few hard sessions, I had the hood up to let the engine cool (motor running). A more knowledgeable-seeming person walked by, looked at the steering fluid reservoir and said it was boiling. Mind you it was just turbulent with some bubbles coming up one side...nothing boiling over. The steering felt fine, but it got my mind working. Took me until now to upgrade it. We'll see how she goes from here. It was a simple enough mod and I got the Stillen setup from a guy on here for only $100. Couldn't pass up that deal, and I'm really impressed with the Stillen kit. It's essentially a 9-row oil cooler.

Synthetic fluid will help

I've had it since my first track day, and no boiling over here. The 350 used to boil over all the time before I got the nismo one for it.

Nice write up. Thanks

A Mega Rep to you. :tup:

Great pictures ;)

Yes, iPhone 4 photos courtesy of JB1 :)
+ rep to him for helping out

No worries. I'm glad it ain't leaking :-)

Any concern over the Redline fluid meeting the spec? The manual calls for Dextron VI ATF, but Redline only mentions up to Dextron III compatibility for their PS fluid. Perhaps better off using their D6 ATF fluid?

I'm thinking about this cooler myself but in a different location as a result of oil cooler.

Hmmm, interesting. I didn't even think to look. It's been holding up well through the summer heat, autox and a track day. I'm not too worried, but maybe I'll shoot Redline an email.

I read the spec, D4 and D6 don't seem all that different except for a slight viscosity difference (D6 being thinner) so it's probably fine especially given that you don't drive in the winter.

I actually do drive the car all winter.

I spoke with the Redline guys and they confirmed that the 'Power Steering' fluid by Redline is Dexron III rated. As you noted Chris, it has a higher viscosity. They recommended the D6 ATF as a more appropriate substitute. I just swapped my reservoir fluid for the D6, let it run for a bit, and then pumped out and refilled the reservoir again. Figure that should be a good enough fluid swap for now.

That should work. I'm doing the PS install this weekend in a non stock location. I'll be following your instructions as the ones Stillen has on the website are incomplete.

Nice. It should be pretty straight forward. Send me a PM or email if you have any problems. This forum has saved me more than once with super-quick replies to problems I've encountered in the middle of a job. :tiphat: