Electric power steering pump - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ChrisZang · 11-09-2011, 06:28 PM

The track season is over and all indications are that I overcooked my power steering pump AGAIN (this is the 2nd one is as many years)

So I think it's time for an electric one.
Has anyone done it?
Good tips for which one to use (should have an integrated reservoir)? I think the Porsche motorsport electric PS pump is great but too expensive.
Any DIY?

Thanks

jaykay · 11-09-2011, 06:35 PM

An undrive pulley should help.....slows down the pump!

The Radium King · 11-09-2011, 06:50 PM

renegade hybrids sells a kit for the 996. you can also buy 'universal' kits for about the same money. a search online will show that a lot of folks use mr2 elecric ps pumps. there's caveats with power draw, electronic control, sourcing switched and unswitched power, etc. again, you'll have to search to get any info of use (i'd asked here before to no avail).

i'm currently looking at what it takes to convert a ps steering rack to manual. most folks state that it's fine for general driving and track/de, but heavy for ax and two hands required for parking and other slow maneuvers. better road feel. allows you to ditch the ps pump and plumbing alltogether - a few more hp, less weight.

the conversion looks easy (for info look to the 944 and 928 guys). plumb the inputs to each side of the rack piston together, plug the four ports on the pinion tower. the only thing i'm trying to confirm is whether you can get into the pinion tower to shim the torsion bar and reduce some play.

ChrisZang · 11-09-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

An undrive pulley should help.....slows down the pump!

Nope didn't help in my case

stephen wilson · 11-10-2011, 04:55 AM

How about a PS fluid cooler? It may require custom plumbing, if no one has a kit, but it should be simpler than the other options.

The Radium King · 11-10-2011, 06:26 AM

ln engineering has a kit.

ChrisZang · 11-11-2011, 12:59 PM

Yeah, that would make sense if the PS pump is still OK.
But I can either replace the pump again and install the cooler or simply get rid of the whole troublesome PS assembly alltogether and replace it with something reliable

Mrmaddbrad · 02-18-2012, 03:28 PM

I could sell you a LUK (OEM) pump for $500+ shipping and then buy a cooler for the $150. Just barely over the price of a new pump :P take your pick!

Kroggers · 02-22-2012, 11:28 AM

Have I had a problem - No, not yet

Brad Roberts · 02-23-2012, 09:22 AM

When we first started seeing problems in 03 (only on the S's) it was 911 drivers driving their first mid engine car. I'd watch their in car video's and laugh my ass off at them "sawing at the wheel" like they are taught by every 911 instructor out there. This technique is not only causing more heat, it is slower.. in a mid engine car..

I'd stand on pit wall and watch people SAW the wheel down the straight away. I once stood at an AutoX and had people ask me "why is the nose of his car moving back and forth on that straight away"? (He was sawing the wheel)

So, take a LONG hard look at your driving/hands on the wheel in your own video's BEFORE you decide you need to make a change to the car.

Something else to do that is cheap? Disconnect the wire that controls the passenger side fan and put a switch on it! The computer controls the ground side of the relay (which is in the trunk) so interrupt the ground with a regular toggle switch and switch the fan on every time you head out onto the track or AutoX. Porsche only turns the fan on to evacuate the engine compartment on cold start, and when the temps rise to a certain level (I forget that temp)

or.. or.. remove that fan altogether and anything in the duct work that could impede airflow into the engine compartment from outside.

B

Kroggers · 02-23-2012, 09:33 AM

Good stuff Brad. I have already removed the fan as per your recommendations some time back.

I also think that the ambient temperatures over here and the fact that we run 20min races will also reduce the risk of any issue for me.

As for driving style. I did learn to drive in a 911 (1978 911sc), but not sure I drive in the way you indicate. This is how I drive the Boxster -

Brad Roberts · 02-23-2012, 09:51 AM

Smooth hands/slow hands will reward the Grasshopper

I'd run the heat sleeve material on your lines and be done with it. Run the heat sleeve all the way up to the back of the fluid reservoir and run another piece on the pressure line coming from the front of the pump. Most of the installs I see with the heat shielding totally miss the two HOTTEST spot on the lines??

I know why. It takes some *effort* to remove the pump/hard lines and install the heat shielding where is actually needs to go!!!

The other reason you *probably* wont see a problem? You removed the AC compressor! The AC comp helps trap heat also on top of the engine. The pressure line snakes underneath the AC comp and is only a few mm's from the top of the engine block (where 200+ degree water is flowing)