I had to take my Bonneville in to get serviced today. She started leaking from a cooler behind the front passenger tire (why GM put it there is beyond me). The dealer told me that the Power Steering Cooler was rusted and needed to be replaced, Fine. I expect things to rust out on a 12 year old car. But he told me that both lines need to be replaced as well (that go to the steering gear) because it'* all one piece.

My question(*) to all of you:

Why would both lines and the cooler be one piece? Average price?
What is the normal labor (hours) that go with this job?
How hard/easy is it to do it yourself?


Thanks in advance!
Paul

The cooler is frequently a solid metal tube that runs around the subframe. Both hoses are probably attached solidly. However..I'm not sure 100% on the attachment.

I think Randman did this...easily I think.

Thread by Randman1

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...power+steering

I'm not entirely sure what he did to fix it...will try to contact him.

Well, here'* where mine is leaking..






Just wonder why I can't just change the cooler. Doesn't make sense to change the whole line. Or is it once the cooler rusts out, the lines are right behind it?

Also, I could not find my PS resivoir. Where is it?? It'* nowhere on top of the engine.

they should just be able to replace the cooler....although the lines look crimped on there.... they may only sell the unit as one...

You need to look down on the passenger side of the engine bay near the firewall to see the resivor...its hidden pertty well on the Series II

You could probably pick up a seperate cooler and hook directly to the rubber lines yourself.

On the res.. it is part of the power steering pump. Down low and tough to see like 1993 sle mentions

FYI,

I found a replacement cooler, http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...Power+Steering for much less than the dealer would have charged. I'll try to change it in the next few days.

Thanks for the help!

Hmmm.....be careful. That says transmission cooler. Not sure the lines are the same size, but I suppose if you are handy enough and can find the right fittings to tie it into the PS lines/pump, it could work.

The good news is that you have the easier of the two different types of PS fluid coolers. The original on my former 93 wasn't the finned type but instead was a long wandering tube that snaked it'* way all over the engine compartment.

I searched for a new replacement but found some confustion with the parts diagrams, dealers, etc. Seems like there might actually be more than two flavors. I ended up replacing the cooler from a parts car.

The assembly is essentially the low pressure return line so a splice with a hose clamp is possible but not a repair I'd do. I'd try to find a complete assembly with the proper rubber-to-steel line connections. Removal and installation was pretty simple. The flare nut going into the steering rack was a bastard so I just cut the line and used a deep well socket rather than a flare nut wrench. If you are able to use a wrench, wear gloves. The exhaust heat shields are very sharp and there'* not much room in that area.