Any ideas why I am having to replace my power steering pump for the third time in less than a year and half. Its on a 2003 tacoma double cab trd with 32" tires completely stock suspension .

 

Crummy rebuilds? Or the cooler is blocked or flow restricted (mine is just a foot long piece of steel 3/8" pipe) . Or debris from inside the steering box is eating it up. Look at the fluid, is burnt? is there debris in the resouvoir? Is the fluild clear?

 

I currently do not have cooler on ther, but i think I am definantely going to put one on this go round. Fluid looks nasty. I flushed resevoir out good on last instal I bleed fluid out of rack and pinion as best I could. Thanks for reply !!

 

are you bleeding the system correctly? cavitation will destroy a pump

 

Most likely not !! Can you explain?

 

Its a self bleeding system. You put fluid in until it stops cavitating (nasty noise) stops then fill to "hot" marking on dipstick. Turn wheel stop to stop a couple of times to be sure you got all the air out, and its GTG.

I just did one, replaced the steering box which leaked like a sieve and had a pinhole leak in the pressure hose to boot. ran out of fluid many a time, and still works fine YMMV.

 

You're using ATF and not power steering fluid, right?

 

like scuba says, USE ATF not power steering fluid.... i found out just in time to save my pump