Power steering pipes - can i make them shorter ?

[Master Chief]

Hi guys.

I have an Euro Market S14 OEM SR20DET, ZENKI.
Take a look at the pictures, please...

There are two pipes from the power steering pump and rack, that go for some reason, all the way accross the engine bay, then exit the engine bay to the passanger side wing, LOOP AROUND and go back again.

http://www.max-tuning.com/gallery/mypics/sr20det/pst1.jpg

http://www.max-tuning.com/gallery/mypics/sr20det/pst2.jpg

http://www.max-tuning.com/gallery/mypics/sr20det/pst3.jpg

I would imagine this is for cooling purposes, so i was wondering if this, or something simmilar is going on on your cars as well.

It seems that other market S14, or different years, dont have these.
Meaby those use some other way of cooling ?

The thing is, that the piping that goes to the wing, interfeers with the placement of my engine oil cooler setup, and i was thinking of shortening it, by connecting the two pipes marked with red.

http://www.max-tuning.com/gallery/mypics/sr20det/pst4.jpg

What do you guys think about it ?

Thanks.

[tt99ol]

you are right it is for cooling
just get a power steering cooler to replace those lines
and you can eliminate all the piping that goes across the cross member by using a ps cooler too

[clark]

Yes,
Nissan put that loop there to cool the power steering fluid. contemporary power steering cooling systems consist of a finned design to disipate heat. you can use anything really. you can take the power steering cooler off from a 350z and do it. it's just a heat exchanger really.

now that i think of it, using the heat exchanger will probably be more efficient than what nissan chose to do from the factory with that long loop of hard line.

it will be failry easy to just bypass it and use a modern power steering cooler.

[Master Chief]

So, who doesnt have that loop from the Factory, must have something else ?

I am sure i saw pictures, that dont have either....

How about just shortening it, its not advaisable ?

[projectRDM]

The second loop isn't need for sure, no clue why they do that. Any OE cooler like off a 350Z or 99% of Ford trucks will work fine. Take every bit of the piping out and just run a hose to each end of a cooler, mount it low on the crossmember or frame rail. Done and done.

[lok]

Use it for a power steering cooler like everyone else said.

With those two hose's it would make the install really easy.