Question,

can I seal a power steering leak by opening the pump and using some gasket maker stuff? I know I should replace it, but I just can't at the moment and the leak seeems to be getting worse. I checked all the hoses and sealed the threads and that doesn't seems to be the issues as the leak continues. Is there only the one seal on the pump that leaks?

Thanks,
STeve

2003 Discover

 

I had a leak at the seal a couple of months ago. I removed it, split it and made a new gasket. I used gasket paper and sealed it with RTV. After puting it back together I let it cure over night and checked the seal by puting air to it. I reinstalled the pump on the truck and it's been working fine.

 

You might also want to use a bottle of White Shepherd P/S sealer, I did this 6 weeks ago and haven't leaked a drop first.
All you need to do is flush the system, apx. 4 quarts of p/s fluid and then add 1/3rd. of a bottle of White Shepherd and your set.

 

WHere can I purchase white shepard? I have never seen that stuff...I've tried Lucas PS sealer and no luck at all with that other than when it's cold and thickens up...actually cames the steering very tight in the AM when the car is cold

 

Disco Mike and I just had a phone conversation about this the other night as I have the same problem. You can order White Shepard P/S Stop Leak on Amazon for around 9 dollars a bottle. Mine has not come in yet so I can not speak to function but that's where I ordered mine. Just search it on Amazon.com. Good luck.

 

White Shepherd is a seal sweller and the gasket in the PAS is a paper gasket. Seal swellers cannot swell a paper gasket so if it is leaking from the middle gasket white shepherds will not do a thing. You choices are a new or used pump or try to rebuild your old pump as suggested above.

 

It sealed mine with no problem, after 2 days I had no more leak from the center, paper, seal.
As for the Lucas, it is made to free up internal valving and prevent internal leaks, not external leaks.

 

If you call universal and have a chat with one of their CS reps they will tell you it won't swell paper gaskets. It works great on oil seals type seals though. You may want to try Lucas stop leak as it is an oil thickener and may slow it down.

 

And my first hand experience, that was also checked by my mechanic before and after the White Shepherd was added, shows that in fact it did work for mine and for $9 it was worth trying it before buying a new pump.

 

I have to say that while the Lucas is great for a lot of things it is useless on a Disco I P/S pump or gearbox leak. Everyone I found on this forum that used it on a Disco I reported the same results. I tried an entire bottle two different times and it didn't change the rate of fluid loss one bit. All it did was change the color to a nice red/pink color. But that's just my personal experience.