The third hydraulic pump is installed; has less than 20 miles of use. No steering assist. Does not work. New. But did work while purging a minute after the install.

Opened my second (previous) steering pump installed ~10 years ago that I kept and found NO KEY on its shaft. This is the one that gave me trouble by destroying the belt because its shaft shifted forward and ended losing steering as the mechanism just did not spin with the pulley. Shaft pushed out with no effort. A couple of threads posted about it.



Went to my old parts bin and opened the original 25 years old pump I kept when replaced by a reason that cannot remember like 10 years ago. It does have the key in place :





F**k**n chinese did not fit the key in the second pump and suspect neither in the third and currently installed one that does not work. Will have to remove this new, open to inspect and solve the trouble. Even if they honor warranty, they will not honor my time/effort/work and frustration.

All the pumps are identical inside and out, same markings, machining and construction.

Am thinking to
- Put back the original but cannot remember why I replaced it;
- Install the key in the newest (third) pump if I find it without it - it has to come out to diagnose what is going on-
- Install the second pump with the original key.


Comments welcome.

 

I rebuilt mine a couple of years ago. There were a couple of threads here about doing it. I bought a rebuild kit, I think from eBay. The link was in one of the threads. It wasn’t difficult. The only special tool needed was a press. The one thing to beware of is that there are a couple of tiny parts that I didn’t notice but was lucky enough to not lose.
I suppose my recommendation would be to rebuild your original pump.

 

just had a shop replace my steering pump. the new one they put in didn't last a mile.

the second pump seems to be fine. my shop uses OE parts. not sure that means a whole lot on a 20 year old Discovery.

 

Be careful removing the parts below the rotor and take photos of their orientation. In 20+ trucks I have only had one pump actually wear out the front bearing, everything else was just a blown gasket in the back. I seriously doubt either of your original pumps had a bad front bearing or seal.

 

Yeah, I changed my bearing because it came with the kit. It probably didn’t need it and I probably opened myself up to more chances of messing something up.

 

Can anyone please tell the direction the pressure regulator plunger is inserted in the steering pump ? Its long end or its short end into the spring ?

|/\/\/\/\/\/\/ ==============(======)=== outlet fittingcap
spring----------longend--------(plunger)--short end-->outlet

Or

|/\/\/\/\/\/\/ ===(======)============== outlet fittingcap
spring---shortend----(plunger)-------------longend--->outlet

The plunger/piston is spring loaded behind the 7/8" hex outlet fitting under the yellow cap. Avoid jumping out when unscrewing. Thanks.