Hi, I have my engine bay completely stripped down at the moment (never again!), so now is the time to change anything that I want changed. I have a question about one of the power steering lines that runs from the reservoir to the steering rack. I've outlined it in the red, on the included picture. This picture is of a US (so left hook) steering system. On our cars the large metal pipe that runs from one side of the car to the other is still there. However with ours, where it changes to rubber and runs to the back of the rack, ours runs all the way from the passenger side across the rack (changing back to metal) to the driver's side and then into the back of the rack. So yep that's right, not that far from the reservoir! What I want to know is, can I remove this and just run a pipe from the bottom of the reservoir and down to the steering rack. I'm making the assumption that it is only setup the way it is, because it was designed to allow for left hand drive cars. Does anyone know of another reason for it being the way it is? Otherwise it's just one more thing that can break, leak or get in the road while trying to work on the car. Cheers Mark
That is the return line Mark, and it is setup the way it is to allow the fluid to cool on it's return trip. Most modern cars have small coolers built into their lines, Nissan did it this way.
would it be possible to use an oil cooler for the same effect them? would remove "some" of the pipework but adds the extra weight of the cooler....
Bugger. Sounds like I might have to put it back then I did think if it was for cooling, to add a cooler but space is at a premium at the front of my Z. Slightly different topic, how important do you think the second bleed valve for the clutch is? The Z is the only car I've seen that has two valves and I always find it a shit to bleed (not to mention more likely to spill fluid on the paint). I'm never ever stripping a Z engine bay back to metal again! (well till the next time anyway) Cheers Mark
You could remove that line and and fit new lines and a cooler but I can't see any gains in doing that.
yes Mark,you can remove the second bleed pipe that runs into the engine bay as you can replace it with a one piece braided line,its available here 7th item down (uas clutch line) http://www.nismo.com.au/pricelists/pricelist_300zxgearbox.htm
I intend to do that And reuse the stock oil cooler and mount it somewhere to cool the power steering line. Currently my line leaks and needs to be replaced, this way I can route the way I want it to and its not that hard to find a spot to do it. The stock oil cooler is small.
