I finally found out where my power-steering fluid was leaking from on my '00 300m.

After taking off the front plastic facia (which was easier to do than I
thought), the leak was easy to see.

The so-called power-steering fluid cooler is just a 4-ft long piece of
aluminum tubing bent into a long U shape and mounted sort-of under and
in front of the radiator. Rubber hoses connect to this pipe on the
driver's side using simple hose-clamps.

The pipe is welded to a pair of brackets that are bolted to the
underside of the radiator bulkhead. A small radiator (tranny cooler?)
is mounted to the front side of the radiator, directly behind this
cooler-pipe. The inlet and outlet for this small rad are located on the
bottom side. The PS cooler pipe was in direct contact with one of the
inlet/outlet nuts of this small rad.

One of the brackets must have been bent slightly during a minor
front-end impact with either a snow bank or parking curb, causing the
pipe to remain in constant contact with the nut. This caused a hole to
be worn into the pipe, causing the leak.

Here's what this cooler-pipe looks like:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/$(KGrHqV,!n0FBZy3hOwvBQnTNBC8+Q~~60_35.JPG

Apparently, that one was being sold on ebay for $40 - and it was used.
I see that someone sold a new one last year for $30. Most places seem
to be selling this for $50 - $75.

I could probably make one, it looks so simple in design.

Since it's the fall and the temps are going to get cold, I could
probably just bypass this thing by connecting the hoses together.

But I wonder if the power steering fluid gets so hot that you really
need this stupid piece of pipe?

 

If I was not needed, Chrysler would have deleted it in the later year M's and they did not. Extended use high temps hard on seals in the rack and pump. Temporary by pass untill you get a new one or one from a yard. ($20 or less at most u pull it yards)