If the power steering fluid gets low enough for the pump to start howling will it destroy my pump? If so, how much can I get away with? 20 miles? The 1990 T-bird power steering rack on the MkII on the front of my 1953 Chevy lost a seal on the way to work today. (It leaks fluid at both ends, inside the dust boots, anytime I turn the wheel.) By the time I got here it took a pint bottle to fill it back up. On the way home I need to pick up both my kids at separate locations AND stop at a store. Total driving probably 20 miles. It's a 1978 Chevy pump with maybe 70,000 miles on it. Can I make it home? If it starts to howl again do I need to immediately stop and refill? I was going to just take off the power steering belt over lunch but it turns out the rear two of the three belts drive the p.s. pump and I don't have time to take off all three belts and put the alternator belt back on before lunch is over.
Just cut the belt. Put a $15 new one on when you get the leak fixed. I've heard guys run them for years howling away! Not guaranteeing you'll make it home without destroying yours though.
Cut the belt like above if your going to go thru the rack and clean and reseal put a rebuilt pump on so if there is any crap in it from running low it wont go into your over hauled rack, also flush the lines.pumps are cheap racks are not
I was willing to cut one belt, but not two. At that point I think I lose my water pump, too. I'd have to look more closely, but that was my first impression. (I put this car together over a decade ago and haven't paid much attention to the engine compartment since then!)
Pumps are cheap? Good to know. The rack was $72 or therabouts. (O'Reilly had on in stock - I stopped on the way to work to find out because I thought I'd have to order one.) Back in the pre-kid days I'd have swapped the rack right in my parking lot, but those days are long gone now.
I was about to write that a T-bird rack at my NAPA was under $75 several years ago. I'd just replace the rack and power steering pump.
Damn racks are cheap now last time I bought one it was $250, the pump was $35, I bet the warranty for the rack says to replace the pump and flush the lines, you have two belts on the power steering pump??????
i used to rebuild gm pumps and until you tear one down and look at it you really can't tell condition.
I know! I was surprised, too. The one on the car I bought in 2003 for something like $150. (They looked it up to see what part number to use.) Parts don't usually get cheaper as time goes by. Yes, there are two belts on the power steering pump. One belt that runs the power steering pump and water pump only, and another belt that runs the A/C pump but also wraps around the power steering pump. It's the stock pulley and bracket setup from a 1978 Impala wagon, the donor car I got my entire drive train from. I wrongly assumed power steering pumps would be much more expensive. Thanks for mentioning it - a quick web search says O'Reilly sells them for $50 and I haven't even price-shopped around yet. Who knew? Not me.
I've seen them go in minutes. Years ago I had a 1971 Mercury with a leaky steering box. It got so bad, I started filling it up with used motor oil run thru a paint strainer. One day I ran out but thought I could drive home 5 miles without PS. I did, but by the time I got home the pump was shot. So I did what I should have done in the first place, got a seal kit and resealed the steering box then I had to put on a new pump. I suggest you get some cheap fluid at Walmart and drive home, topping it up as necessary. Then fix it before it gets worse.
Incidentally if the steering rack is otherwise good I would see if it is possible to replace just the seals.
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