Hi all....I'm a bit perplexed. A few weeks ago, I was driving home and hit a spot on a bridge where the joints were uneven. It jolted the truck enough that I had to counter-steer it back into my lane and the steering didn't seem right after that. By the time I got home, it was whining. The next morning I noticed a sizeable puddle underneath the truck and it was power steering fluid. I still had power steering even though it was whining and losing fluid. I brought the truck into work and put it on a lift to see exactly where the leak was coming from and after cleaning it up determined it was the gasket between the 2 halves of the pump. I did a little research and found a rebuild kit for one for like $50 and ordered it. Once I got the kit, took the pump off and saw what I was working with, I didn't think that $50 for the kit when all I was going to use was the gasket, was worth it. I went out and bought gasket material and made my own. Slopped some permatex on both sides, put everything back together and sealed up the entire seam. I let it sit overnight to cure and put the pump back on the following day which was relatively easy. Filled the reservoir up and bled the system the best I could by myself. Now I have no power steering whatsoever. I brought the truck into work and had one of our techs help me bleed it and even though we got air out there's still no power steering. After bleeding the system, it's back to whining again with no leaks and the reservoir stays full. Any suggestions or is the pump bad now? It does have 113K miles on it. I just ordered a reman'd pump that will be here Thurs but thought I could get some tips from you guys and try some other things before it gets here. Also, any tips for after I get the new pump on??? Thanks in advance!

 

Wow....no ideas. Awesome

 

I think your diagnosis of bad pump is spot on.

 

When running, does the p/s fluid swirel around inside the reservor or is it still? How did you go about bleeding the system?

 

It definitely doesn't swirl with the same force that it did prior to all of this Disco Mike. I have a new pump being delivered tomorrow even though I didn't want to spend the money on one. I followed the RAVE manual for bleeding it. I don't have it in front of me right now but the bleeder was cracked, cap off the reservoir and continuously topping it off with fluid, wheels slightly off the ground but making just enough contact to make the steering wheel harder to turn and the steering wheel was turned left and right to full lock for no more than 10 seconds. We got plenty of air out so the only thing I can think is it's either a coincidence that the pump went up simultaneously with the leak or I had some sealant break loose inside the and clog something. Either way, I guess it's time to replace it anyway. I do want to completely flush the system once everything is put back together and (hopefully) working properly. I currently filled it with the Valvoline MaxLife but think I would feel more comfortable with the Pentosin CHF 11S that we use at work for BMW's. I saw the same fluid on one of the Rover sites when I was searching for pumps. This should be ok....yes?

 

It's usually just cheaper to go ahead and buy a new pump, forgoing all the headaches and wasted fluid. I tried 'rebuilding' mine about 3 times, spending way too much on PS fluid. I just drive without PS now, gotten pretty used to it. I'll get around to buying a new pump sometime soon when I get tired of parking lots and 3-point turns.

 

driving with no power steering?? I had to do that for a few days with this truck.. your arms must be huge lol

 

So does anyone know if I can use CHF 11S? Pump came in today so I'll be doing the swap in the dark tonight. At least it's like 65 degrees here in MD in February lol

 

I have the same problem. Was it hard to take the pump and the lines off ? How do you loosten the serpentine belt? Where do I access RAVE?
Thanks

 

Pump - power steering - V8

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