Edit: Track day results notes at bottom of this original post...
As part of my effort to make my SVT Focus a little more reliable for open track days, one of the changes happening is a retrofit to the power steering configuration. Colin Cantrell of Cantrell Motorpsorts is doing the work. He's about 1/2 done with the project, having completed the modified HP side with the replacement fittings. I've attached some photos.
Here's the new line with fittings:
It replaces this:
Snipped here:
Key new fitting (this fitting threads into the threaded opening on the PS pump and the receptacle end tightens over it; includes a metal crush ring at the pump):
Top view of new hose assembled to stock line:
Seems to work great so far in around town testing. And looks stock! Heh.
This does require removal of the PS pump; Colin figures it to be a 2+ hour job if the you have a completed hose/adapter assembly. He's planning on offering this assembly to our community as a completed part with complete installation instructions. We're also putting on a small Mocal cooler. Colin might offer the whole deal as an option as well (cooler and adapter/hose) with complete instructions.
My first day out on the track will be July 6. I'll keep you posted with updates on this thread. I'll add pictures of the PS cooler when it goes in. I have one of those infrared reading pyrometers. I'll see what kind of temps we encounter on the pump body; that's as close as I'll be able to get to reading temps from the PS system.
June 21, 2006. As it turns out, we got the cooler installed last week. It is a Focus ATX cooler mounted low in front of the radiator (but behind my oil cooler). The thing is long (or wide depending on how you look at it). The car goes out for testing tomorrow at Pacific Raceways.
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Update: June 23, 2006: Some track day data.
Got the car out yesterday (a little sooner than I originally expected) for a very pleasant track day at Pacific Raceways to assess the PS changes. I took three measurements after 2 sessions:
Measurement points:
* Power steering fliud in reservoir
* Pump body (top)
* HP fitting junction between new HP hose and original hardline
Test Conditions:
* First session: Following 2 cool down laps
* Second session: Exited with no cooldown
Ambient temp: ~65 to 70 deg F
Equipement notes: Raytek MiniTemp (laser) pyrometer; Hoosier R3S04 tires.
Driving style: Pretty much as I always drive; probably 8/10ths of what the car can do, with some areas of extended effort when working on specifics parts of the course.
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First session results:
* Power steering fliud in reservoir: 105 deg F
* Pump body (top): 133 deg F
* HP fitting junction between new HP hose and original hardline: 220 deg F
Second session results:
* Power steering fliud in reservoir:
134 deg F
* Pump body (top): 159 deg F
* HP fitting junction between new HP hose and original hardline: 219 deg F
(also took a reading on the hardline for this session: 220 deg F)
I think that's considerably cooler than the stock cooling loop would get, although I did not take measurements prior to the change (my bad).
The Focus ATX cooler used for the job is a wide thing; it is set behind my oil cooler (which sits dead center behind the lower grill. We also kept the stock PS cooling loop.
Other findings: No apparent leaking or seapage at the new connectors.
I have several days coming up in July. Temps should definitely be at least in the 80s (maybe 90s) -- admittedly not a Pahrump or Willow Springs test -- but that's summer in the NW. What can I say? I'll post additional data as it is acquired.