My 1995 Bonneville SE was leaking fluid badly from a rusted power steering cooler.

My neighborhood mechanic suggested that I could cut the lines and bypass the cooler entirely.

Anyway have any ideas as to whether this is a good work-around? Am I putting the pump or rack at risk? Anyone do this?

Personally I wouldn't do it... Had a friend with a rusty/leaking power steering cooler that I replaced easily without ever having done it before. Not a super expensive part either.

I can't attest to the necessity of the cooler but maybe one of our mechanics can.

if you can get the part for cheap theres no reason to bypass it, bottom line is if you didnt need it it wouldnt be there

At $19 for a power steering cooler (Autozone) why would you even ask?

If it left the factory with a cooler it needs it, the bean counters at GM wouldn't spend a cent more than necessary to make a car.
Roger.