Power steering pump issues

[shmoov69]

I still have the stock pump on my Camaro and it started leaking horribly bad after sitting a month with the engine out. I don't think it is the hoses, but actually coming out body of it or something. How are they put together and where could the leak be coming from and what would be the best fix?
Thanks!

[fishtail8]

It might be the o-ring between the pump body and the pump itself. Fairly easy to change, when the pump's off the fitting that the pressure line goes in unscrews, as does the other 2(?) studs on the backside. The body should then gently pry off the pump. change off the main o-ring, the seals between the bolts and the pump, lub'er up, and re-assemble. Just did it on my dually.

I think that's everything?

[a67]

And the shaft seal. There are gasket kits available that include all of the parts.

Check the shaft play side-to-side before doing the seals. If it is OK then it is worth replacing the seals on the pump. Big o-ring from body to reservoir, then some square cut o-rings where the studs go into the back along with the pressure control port.

Messy but not too difficult job.

Bob.

[shmoov69]

Cool, thanks guys! Does Oreillys or Auto Zone have those in stock?

[Gitter Dun]

Cool, thanks guys! Does Oreillys or Auto Zone have those in stock?

Yeah they do, but if you plan on track days I would go aftermarket or change pully size. I built so much pressure in my stock one at the Global West track day in 2002 that I broke the sodder joint where the filler funnel meets the body of the pump. Then I had to run down to a local auto parts store, installed that one and burned the pulley bearing up.

I recommend the KRC Aluminum power steering pump with seperate resovoir, a little pricey but a beauty.

[CarlC]

That's not from pressure, it's from heat generation. High pump speed combined with a pump liner suited for comfy street/OE purposes does not usually work well at the track. It's the sustained high engine speed + large pump voulme that causes the problem.

Just adding a cooler has not always been effective.

A stock P-type pump can be modified to have a smaller pump liner and output pressure reset. It can also be modified to run dry using a remote reservoir. Removing the reservoir has shown temperature reductions of up to 80* according to Lee's. This is a good option for those still running the Chevy short waterpumps since the aftermarket TC-type pumps do not fit well.

[shmoov69]

So what's the difference between a late model stocker and a aftermarket one? I'm having trouble figuring out what exactly to do and not spend a ton on it.
Thanks

[CarlC]

The main difference in the pump body is the later models have metric threads.

If you are not running the car hard on a road coarse then a stock replacement will likely work fine. If you just have a leak you may be able to buy a seal kit. It's easy to do, just unbolt the reservoir, R&R the large pump body O-ring, and the seals around the bolt holes.

[shmoov69]

I have not run on a course yet, but I am planning on the MMCC next month for the first time. Will it be hard? I dunno, I'll prolly be too chicken ***** to be "hard" on it! Lol. Will I be "hooked" after that? I dunno, possibly but prolly never go wild with it.

So, for misc few and far between track time (so far) and normal strip and street time, would a stocker be pushing it?

Sorry about all the questions, but this is not something I had thought of before!

Thanks again.

[MrQuick]

I have not run on a course yet, but I am planning on the MMCC next month for the first time. Will it be hard? I dunno, I'll prolly be too chicken ***** to be "hard" on it! Lol. Will I be "hooked" after that? I dunno, possibly but prolly never go wild with it.

Thanks again. heh heh heh yeah you'll get hooked.

After a few trips you'll be pushing it.
Vince

[CarlC]

You can try and see how it goes. Just keep your engine speeds low at first and monitor what's going on.

Get ready for a hit off the crack pipe.

[shmoov69]

Thanks guys. Would engine speeds being low be helped by having 3.00 gear and boost for the power? Or will the underhood heat from the turbos cancel all that out?

And yeah, I am actually afraid about the possible addiction! Lol

[Jeff70]

HEY.....I was at that track day! I remember checking your car out after that happened and saying wow never seen that before.

Funny Carl chimed in cause guess what, yep it happened to him also and I was at that track day to! My Mustang doesn't have power I would like to have it do to street driving and have been doing my homework and gave your guys issue some thought.



Jeff