My power steering pump on my 3vze was leaking like crazy had to fill it once a week. Last night took on the task of taking it off to do the seals...... if you can't get the pullie off it is a b%!>h to get out. Once you get it out make sure when you pull the insides out that you do not lose any of the little rectangular pieces of metal that just lay in the pump part of it. Took about 3 hours to do but once it's done and back together I can turn the wheel with my pinky figure. Huge difference. So if you have a hard turning steering wheel it's deffinetly worth the $15 to put the news seals in it. You wont be diaspointed.

 

Well done sir! Another OEM part saved from the core exchange black hole..

 

Which makes your time worth about $15/hour? Well, as long as it's a learning experience.

 

$5.00 per hour if it was worth the $15.00

 

Shop rate, 75-150$ per hour.
shop rate with someone standing over your shoulder asking questions, double that, 150-300/hr multiplying by three hours 450+...



Y'all have the wrong view point!
He saved 450 and learned a new skill!

 

I agree with co_94 I did save alot of money but I pretty much do all my own work. I don't trust my life with a over paid nonexperenced mechanic. I know for a fact I have 20+ years experience and of it ain't done right I have nobody to blame but myself .....

 

make sure youre putting ATF in it. seen too many people put PS fluid in there and it kills the seals almost instantly.

 

Those OEM pumps are tough. I resealed mine a couple years ago and had the biggest brain fart of my career. I stuck the key back in the shaft so I wouldn't loose it and then when I reinstalled the shaft it was really tough to get through there. I must have been having one of those days so I grabbed a big shop hammer and just drove it through there, key and all. I'm sure I had something else on my mind and just completely forgot it was in there. Would you believe though, it still hasn't leaked one drop in almost three years. I mean I cut a trench through that puppy and no issues whatsoever.

 

Are we sure the power steering takes at atf? If so what kind? I have never heard this before.

 

The only place Ive ever heard of it is on this forum. My 90 has had power steering fluid in it since I rebuilt the pump 10 or 12 years ago and that's all my wifes Camry has ever had in it. But I use green antifreeze and Warn hubs and they are not any good either.

 

The reservoir cap on my '92 says Use Dextron type ATF, so that is what I use.

 

I blew up a picture of my motor and this is what it says on my cap.

 

This, plus an atta boy for good measure.

BTW . . . pictures?

 

On my computer the image is too blurry to read, but looks similar to mine. What does the "small print" raised print cast into the cap, second line from the bottom say?

 

My cap has the same white power steering fluid letters, however the raised black lettering underneath it clearly says, "Use Dexron type automatic transmission fluid and fill to proper level." That may just be a generic cap that ended up on there. Regardless, ATF is the fluid to use. I pulled data sheets on the two fluids and they are remarkably similar in their hydraulic properties, however the detergents in them are different. The different additives will react differently with seal materials as well as the gunk in the system. It's basically the same theory behind not switching to synthetic engine oil in a 220,000 mile engine that doesn't leak. Just not a good idea.

Anyway, do a little more research. I found a bunch of people who said they were very happy they took the time to swap out their PS fluid for ATF. I can't testify to any of it and their positive results may have been due swapping out dirty fluid for clean fluid. If you are resealing yours now, do fill it back up with ATF. No question about it.

 

And if you don't believe the cap, all answers are found in The Good Book: http://web.archive.org/web/201207101...10onvehicl.pdf

 

It is also listed in your owners manual. As well it's one place you can trust the parts store database when in doubt about any fluid type, they are actually pretty good with fluids..


Now slightly off topic. Wanna see something eye raising? Look at the specs on Redline D6, you can almost use that stuff everywhere!

 

Looks pretty good. It would probably cut back on some of those hard shifts on cold mornings. Anybody out there running it?

 

Ok i guess I will have to drain it out and puting atf in it then.

 

Have you already cycled the steering fluid through the system? If not just drain the reservoir. Regardless, a quick flush of your system is a good thing. Pull your return line off the pump and turn the motor over a few times and that old fluid will be out of there in a hurry. Be sure to aim the hose. I pulled mine off one time calling myself bleeding out the air and took a bath in it. Rookie mistake number two for that project.