This question is for you A sedan guys. . . I have a 93 Z28 that is completely stock, I road race the car and heard through the grapevine there is a way to keep from blowing power steering pumps by changing the pulley to a larger diameter. Is this true? if so what size pulley and what belt should I use? I have had it fail a few times at high speeds and know it neds to be replaced.
(It moans like a 70's **** star!!)

Any advice is helpfull.

The wall is a bad place to be on raceday!!!

 

Many guys install a cooler in the PS system to keep the fluid temp down, seems to improve the life of the pump. Do a search, there have been a couple threads on this recently and there are a couple how-to links as well. Mike

 

If its already dying I dont know that you can save it now. People are talking about an under drive crank pulley, I haven't seen anyone actually take off and install a larger PS pulley yet.

 

1Z2Z,I read his post awhile ago...I assumed that since he's been racing that he already knew about the PS needing a cooler and thought he was talking about some sort of problem with the pump not be able to stand up to sustained high rpms"blowing up" as in seals or internals from over pumping or something while using a cooler.Didnt bother with tellin him about the cooler and was waiting for some replies cuz this intrigued me and kinda seems possible.And a bigger(smaller) pulley would be less revolutions... under pumping @ higher rpms.
But if he doesnt have a cooler he definitely needs one(thats the prob.) and as advanced as his symtoms are and the fact he's lost a pump already before his Rack will fail in due time like mine did also even after puttin a new pump/cooler in.

 

Most W2W guys will install the smallest crank pulley they can find in an effort reduce all the speed of all the accessories..power steering, alternator,etc.

 

Oh,Duh yeah the smaller would be less.

 

Yeah, I already know I have to replace the pump, but when I do I want to fix the problem right so I won't have to do this again. I already ordered the cooler and will install that on a brand new pump!

Thanks for all the help!

 

This is something I've always wondered about but never needed to worry about. I road raced the heck out of my car and have never had a problem with the power steering pump. I know its not cause I am not driving the car hard enough.

However, I've never heard anyone mention the pulleys. Ever since I have been racing the car I have had BBK underdrive pulleys. I wonder if this is why I have never had the problems. I just change the fluid often and beat the crap out of the car. Best of luck.

Dan

 

LS1 powersteering pumps seem to be more proned to failure than LT1 pumps...most likely a result of the external fluid tank.

However, I do not have a PS cooler, but I do have the underdrive pulley and I haven't any problems with my car at the track. It has puked out a little fluid when overfilled at the track though.

 

Since were on about power steering, anyone have recomendations on good PS fluid?
Thaks

 

If you take the car to road courses and don't have a PS cooler, I'd use Redline. I have an underdrive pulley and a cooler and just use Valvoline semisynthetic - much cheaper.