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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: Low87 on September 07, 2011, 03:04:17 pm

Title: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 07, 2011, 03:04:17 pm
The PS pump on my Jimmy is worse than my 2 month old.  Put formula in and it spits it right back up.  Seriously, this will keep the PS fluid in for a matter of minutes, then drip it all out and make for noisy turns everywhere.  Should I just replace the whole thing, or is there a common defect that's an easier fix?  I can't immediately tell where the leak is.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Captkaos on September 07, 2011, 03:07:55 pm
Can you clean it up and find where the leak is coming from?
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 07, 2011, 03:57:08 pm
Thought about it.  Just some degreaser and a pressure washer.  I'll try that tonight.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: muddpuppy01 on September 07, 2011, 07:18:17 pm
mine did the same thing I changed mine out ended up finding a 3" gash on the back of the reservoir. The previous owner of my truck really scares me by the way this truck was maintained. The belt was to small and bolts were not tight due to not being able to get to them due to the size of the belt. that is how mine got a hole in the back.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 08, 2011, 10:23:39 am
Can you clean it up and find where the leak is coming from?

Hit it heavy with degreaser and the car wash last night.  Let it dry overnight, filled it this morning, it appears to be leaking from the lower front of the reservoir.  Looks like there might be a plug there, based on pictures from parts houses. 
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Captkaos on September 08, 2011, 11:49:43 am
There shouldn't be a "plug" on the front of the pump, could it be leaking from the pump to reservoir seal?
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 08, 2011, 12:46:36 pm
There shouldn't be a "plug" on the front of the pump, could it be leaking from the pump to reservoir seal?

My bad, I was looking at a photo of the back.  Some sites show it plugged, some show it with a wire plug-in.
Here's the area I'm seeing the fluid.  Could be from the shaft, I can't see that part.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v698/gmccourt/truck/PSpump2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v698/gmccourt/truck/PSpump.jpg)
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Captkaos on September 08, 2011, 01:36:43 pm
If it is coming down from the shaft, your seal is bad.  Just replace the pump.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 08, 2011, 02:20:11 pm
Thanks Chris.  Is there anything special to attaching the pulley to the pump?  I saw somewhere they had a special tool for it.  Hoping it's just a gimmick.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Captkaos on September 12, 2011, 06:14:44 pm
You can rent the tool at most parts stores.  It is special to remove it.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: bigchevyc30 on September 12, 2011, 09:26:22 pm
theres no real tool you need to remove it we used the pressure of the belt to hold the pully still and got a socket and tooke the nut of and the pully just slides right off
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: muddpuppy01 on September 12, 2011, 09:28:10 pm
there is a puller for it most auto part stores should have it for rent. The bolt to put the pulley on comes with the pump.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: DrDaryl on September 13, 2011, 12:03:07 am
I too was unsure about that hole you've got circled so I just plugged it.  Mine did require a power steering pulley puller and was easy, also prevented the temptation to use a hammer on it (possibly damaging the seal). There was also a device to reinstall the pulley.
Title: Re: power steering pump
Post by: Low87 on September 15, 2011, 12:22:35 pm
Got the PS pump changed out this past Saturday.  Not a bad job, but definitely requires the pulley puller.  Me and a buudy had it done in two hours, but that includes a pizza break and doing it twice since we didn't notice that we'd forgotten the three front bolts until after everything was buttoned back up.

Thanks for the help guys.