Power Steering Seems Too Hot

So after a short drive around the neighborhood last night, I noticed my power steering box was really hot. Hot enough you couldn't hold your hand on it for long. I'm assuming this isn't normal? The pump wasn't overly hot, but I'm sure a longer drive and it would be given how hot the gear is. What could cause this?

 

still got some air in it?

 

when you installed it
were you sure it was centered

 

That's possible, although it runs completely silent but maybe that doesn't mean anything. I'll see if I can get any more air out.

 

I wouldn't say I'm sure, but the pitman arm it came with was on it and I didn't change or move it. It drives down the street straight with no steering input, is that a good indicator that it's centered?

How hot do these things typically get? I'm tempted to drive my truck around the neighborhood and see how hot it is, although it's not a saginaw box like the Jeep.

 

not really . with power steering

I would check it again
knock the TRE off pitman arm
count turns full left to full right . divided by half . turn back to center
now with wheels straight ahead , will TRE go back into pitman arm

 

I would guess it is adjusted to tight.

 

I do need to check for center and adjust my steering stops so I'll do that, haven't done that since I installed the new axle and bigger tires.

A little searching... Pirate guys are installing temp gauges on their PS and looks like it's not uncommon to run in the 200 degree range. I had no idea they got that hot. I'll drive mine a bit and hit it with the laser temp gun to get a rough idea, but I'm probably in the 180-200 range just guessing from feeling it. Thanks for the replies.

 

Interesting post and I can't wait to see what comes up as far as the issue of how hot is too hot. I can't say I ever grabbed a steering box right after driving it so I don't even know if they should feel hot. I will say that I can't see the reason for an installed power steering temp gauge unless you are willing to stop steering if it gets too hot. With just about the same plumbing work you could just add a cooler. Maybe a rock crawler thing?

 

I actually have a small cooler on mine but I think I need to move it where it can get better air flow. I’m with you tho, interested to hear everybody’s thoughts.

 

I was surprised with how hot mine ran. I ignored it. Still works, didnt boil or burn..

 

Cooler were common back in the day

 

I put a rather large cooler in my system on the 3B, along with a quart sized spin-on hydraulic filter. It has a remote quart tank. It was getting warm enough before, when in the rocks, that the hot hydraulic fluid smell was very evident.
Hydraulic filter and surge tank for remote reservoir.


PS cooler in front of radiator.


Absolutely no issues since building this.

 

I took mine off a Durango at the pick-n-pull.

 

If you have driven it for a bit , and cycled the gear L/R the air would normally escape through the vent in the tank reservoir cap.

 

Thanks, it's definitely been cycled L/R many times. First time power steering in an Early CJ is exciting, you can't help but go looking for reasons to over steer and turn around within a parking space

 

You say that like there is a difference?

 

Ummm, yeh... that's basically what mine looks like