Looking for an used working power steering pump if anyone has a spare. Mine whines like you wouldn't believe and I want to replace mine before selling it so the sound doesn't scare potential buyers away. "Ummm errr yeah, dat der sound is the turbo flux resonnator bypass spool winding up, that just means she's operating at the optimum right der!"

Anyone? Also, how much trouble is it to get underneath there to remove and install? 3 hour job? Thanks.

 

I'm not sure but did these pumps always whine a bit when they were new - when you turn hard left or hard right all the way to the end?

Probably 3 hrs if you haven't done it, maybe 1.5. Last night we removed one but it took about 30 min. once the car was on jackstands though and wheel removed, and splash panel removed. 22mm Socket, and a smaller one, I can't remember. Watch for the fluid to spill on your driveway - put a drain pan under.

 

This pump in one day last Summer got real noisy in a hurry, and we're not talking just when you turn left or right. We're talking at all rpms, actively steering or not. And when you give it gas in neutral, you can make it sound like an angry cat in heat. Rrrrrrrrrreeeeaaarrrrrrr! Quite the sound effect. I think the fluid was allowed to get a bit dirty and the level dropped just a bit and that was it I think. One mechanic told me the bearings inside the pump can go bad and that's where the noise is coming from. So...that gets me thinking though, perhaps it's just the power steering pulley? Thoughts people?

Oh, how hard was it to get the belt off and on? Is there a special tool you can use for doing belts? I have always wondered? Are do people just always hillbilly it with a broomstick or toilet plunger ?

 

There was an adjustment screw at the bottom, you loosen it and you pull the belt off by hand (or just cut the belt since you'll probably buy a new one). There are 7 fasteners total I think. One big 22mm nut on the top of engine bay, then 3 or 4 small bolts that you access though the holes in the pulley, then 2 smaller bolts connecting the 2nd hose to the pump. The high pressure hose was still attached to it when we pulled it out - you snake it through from the bottom.

 

I've got one or four. If you still need, send me your zip code to calculate shipping....make me an offer.

However, I would suggest maybe draining the system and putting in auto trans fluid. I think there is also some good stuff at AutoZone/Advance to add into the fluid to help. I say this only becuase I used it and it helped. I think part of my problem too was having air in the system from an old leaky pressure hose. The pump whined for like 6 months after replacing the hose. I did the recommended procedure for getting air out of the system (If I recall, turning and holding the steering wheel all the way to left....all the way to right....back and forth slowly.). I also added the system aid stuff and the noise is all gone now. Same pump, years later.

I would suggest though, checking the return hose. I've found on many 3rd gens I've worked on, that the return hose connected to the pump and the clamp securing it, get worn. I had some minor leakage there. I think I just cut the hose a bit shorter and installed a better clamp. I think that's what really helped fix my whine, I was probably pulling air into the system at that hose at the pump. Just somethings to think about.