Hydroboost / Power Steering Filtration

[Alisobob]

Most everything on our Duramax's have filters..... the flippin' tranny even has two. So why did the poor ol' Hydroboost system get left out? I guess GM was counting their pennies that day.

Well, now you can do something about it!! Meet Magnefine!

This little gizmo plumbs into the return line in your hydroboost system as uses a mechanical filter, and a magnet to catch all the trash floating around.. Genius!!

Install takes 2 minutes, really.

1. Locate this hose, and notice the straight section. Its like GM made this hose with the mod in mind.

2. Open cap to releive any pressure, and cut out a section aprox the length of the Magnefine filter

3. Install the filter with the flow going to correct way, back to the pump

4. Crack a beer after your 2 minutes of hard work.

It tucks down in there a little better than the photo shows. Its disposable, just throw it away every 30k miles or so. Dont worry if it clogs, it has a bypass feature .... so no worries.

Its cheap, I got 10 of them for $100 on ebay. A lifetime supply.

I'm putting them on every vehicle I own.

 

[ak diesel driver]

I put one of those on mine when I R&Red the steering box

 

[WarWagon]

I hate to rain on the parade, but, it needs to be installed on the "other" return line.

Pictured is not only a useless location due to near zero fluid flow, but, can cause the brakes to stay on or locked up if the filter plugs and is not equipped with a bypass valve in that location. Installed on the other location, return line from the steering box, a plugged filter would see 1200 PSI, implode and go through the pump (you have other bigger issues with a plugged filter anyway), blow out, or blow a return line clean off - maybe even lock the pump up and burn the belt off for a really strong design. Releasing the brakes will not put 1200 PSI on the pictured return line.

In some designs adding pressure to the plugged filter on the return line from a air bypass, seal leaks, etc. could self apply the brakes by moving the power piston. After all the power piston is vented to the return line at all times except when you apply the brakes and it gets pressure from the pump line.

As most OEM equipment lasts well over 100K on the original fluid you can see the lack of any real need for a filter to the OEM's. Plugged filters can cause a problem that OEM's don't need. In this location the brakes would stay on as the hydrobooster could not release through a plugged filter! I hope it has a bypass. The location you installed the filter only flows when you release the brakes. And the fluid flow is allowing the power piston to return allowing the brakes to release. Otherwise the fluid flows on to the power steering box and then back to the pump from it. PS pump to hydroboost then steering box and back to the pump via that return hose. Brakes get the fluid first but sends it on the the PS box.

Ideal location to filter stuff is on the return line from the box. 2nd ideal is in the pump before the pump.

How a hydrobooster works and look at the system thinking there are 2 return lines, but, one flows 99.99999% of the fluid:
http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/issue/article.aspx?contentid=38431

Yes designs vary with some having a bypass for dealing with air etc. that would change the flow in that line by a small %.

Say a bearing goes out in the PS pump like I had happen on a replacement pump. That will plug a filter quick. The pump that failed had a filter in it! The return line from the booster has lots of glitter as well as every other part. I flushed the PS cooler and replaced everything else, steering box, hydrobooster, lines and the pump again.

 

[Alisobob]

I hate to rain on the parade, but, it needs to be installed on the "other" return line.

Pictured is not only a useless location due to near zero fluid flow, but, can cause the brakes to stay on or locked up if the filter plugs and is not equipped with a bypass valve in that location.

Near zero flow? Have you ever flushed the system from this port? Its far from "Zero Flow", I also state clearly that the filter has a bypass function




As most OEM equipment lasts well over 100K on the original fluid you can see the lack of any real need for a filter to the OEM's.
My truck has 200k on the original parts

2nd ideal is in the pump before the pump.
You should never place a filter on a suction or supply line line.

How a hydrobooster works and look at the system thinking there are 2 return lines, but, one flows 99.99999% of the fluid:
That is incorrect

The box return would be a better place, but not very accessable.

 

[WarWagon]

My bad I missed the bypass part buried in the install instructions. Not sure how much restriction it takes to hold the brakes on but it is an item to check when having issues with the booster. Some off road rock crawlers using hydroboosters drill the booster return restriction orface larger to release the brakes even faster.

Still 'bypass' class filtration in that location. Last time I flushed the system from the box return line it caught air and blasted oil over everything from the catch pan. Walls, floor, fender, etc. Night and day flow between the lines. Didn't take long to run the level down and suck air and fluid.

I am not going to remove/move factory filters on the suction side like the Duramax fuel filter, Allison transmission pre pump 'screen' or filter in other automatics, tank socks/ lift pump prefilters, or the filter in aftermarket PS rebuilds that include an optional internal filter on the suction side of the pump. So I am not sure what you are saying there.