I am looking for some guidance. I am running 35 x 12.50 x 17 Milestar Patagoneas, limited slip in the front on my 07JKU with a 6.0 LS. So it has the GM ham can power steering pump.

Its is my daily driver and only sees off road adventures once or twice a year when we go to Colorado and run the trails around Ouray. So no extreme rock crawling but slow and the occasional rocky patch. Every time we go and I air down within that first day I dang near boil my power steering pump fluid, actually it does. At that point it starts squealing and such. after this year and it doing it again I installed a auxiliary trans cooler in line with the pump to hopefully keep it cooler.

2 years ago I had the box rebuilt by WTO but did not get it ported for hydro assist. It is now leaking out from under the adjuster lock nut on the top and they want to see it for repairs and I am thinking going hydro at the same time. My biggest question, is this something that is really needed for my situation? I have looked and read as much as I can find and almost all say 37 and up but I just want the steering to survive and not over heat when ever I go off road, I may be answering my own question but would still like some thoughts from all of you.

 

The only other thought after a cooler might be to go with a high grade synthetic fluid... or get a PSC aftermarket reservoir that holds more fluid and relocate it?

 

I would say that is it not necessary in general for your build or use, but that if you are sending them your box anyhow, you may as well get a ported box back. Turn around time would be quicker to as they would send you the new box immediately, and then refund you the core price when they received your old box. If you are not up for the full expenditure right now, maybe you consider the ported box alone for now, leave the plugs in it, and that would allow you to easily add a ram and lines later if you wanted. <just thinking out loud>. My personal opinion is that it does change the on-pavement feel of the jeep as well in a positive way, so even though you're not doing extreme things offroad, there is still some benefit......there are drawbacks as well though. For example, if you're in a parking garage making quick 90* turns back and forth, sometimes you can feel yourself steering a bit quick and need to give it just a second. I will say that adding hydro was well worth it for me. I have larger tires and wanted it for offroading, but it didn't take long to see the additional benefit while on the pavement.

 

All good suggestions. I have been going back and forth on getting it or just having the box ported then see what happens after doing the cooler that is now installed. Only draw back to that is if it does it again its another worrisome week of wheeling hoping I don't loose the pump. Same breath I don't want to just spend money if I do not need to. Already do that well enough