help: Power steering damper delete?
 

Hey, I was just working on my car planning on replacing all the power steering fluid when I found out that there's a huge loop in the ps fluid line. I searched around and haven't found any threads on this. All I come up with is complete manual conversions or new manual steering racks, but as I don't have the money to do something like that I am not interested at the moment [ maybe in the future =) ]

I was wondering if anyone has removed this loop and how the ps felt without it in? I'm trying to get rid of as much slack as possible without breaking the bank and I figured that if this is anything like the clutch damper loop on an s14 then it should make a pretty big difference. Although, I wanted to know the exact benefits, if it puts more stress on the pump and if this loop is necessary to cool the fluid before I do the ps loop delete. Let me know what you guys have done.

That is a loop for cooling not damping.

i just figured that with that much more fluid it would also damp it.... I'm assuming it is important to leave that in then?

Forgot to mention that I am talking about an s13 chassis here... not sure if the s14 runs the same thing or not

yep, it is the stock power steering cooler. keep it. same for dohc s13's and s14's.

the sohc has a different setup though i am not sure what.

You figured wrong. Fluid pressure is not affected no matter how long the hoses/lines are. Removing the cooler though will guarantee you a dead rack and/or pump within a few months from overheated fluid.

Although I don't agree with fluid pressure not being affected no matter how long the lines are, I will leave it in as i did not think it was that important for cooling. The reason I don't agree is because even though the power steering fluid itself might not compress, it will take in moisture and other contaminants which do. Therefore more fluid in a system would be more prone to contaminants and moisture which WILL compress.

Another reason is what I stated originally, the example of the clutch damper on the s14. All that damper is, is a loop. If this loop is eliminated the clutch pedal instantly feels stiffer and provides more feel. Although this could be different depending on the fluid in question, (power steering fluid vs brake fluid) but most fluids do compress a little, which would mean that a longer line would affect fluid pressure.

To bad that loop is on the unpressurized return line not the pressure side. Totally throws your crack pot theory in the can.

I've always found it foolish to explain how something technical works to someone who basically wrote the book about it... You don't need to explain to RDM how the fluid in a powersteering system works.

The only part that really dampens any vibration between the tires and your steering wheel is a rubber collar that sits right inside the opening in your firewall.

Hey, I never said I knew everything. I asked about this because I didn't know the correct answer about it. Also I had no way of knowing how reliable RDM's info was as I don't know him, which is why I threw what I knew from my experience into my response to his post. I also didn't pay attention to the fact that the loop is on the unpressurized return line as S14DB stated. Well, thanks for the input. Guess all I can do is change the fluid and save up for new parts to get more response out of my powersteering....

You also might realize that your theory is more possible when using regular power steering fluid, which isn't the case with a Nissan power steering system. ATF is far less likely to get contaminated or retain moisture.