[Shotimes] RE: Power Steering Pump

[Jonathon Beisler]

Karen,
I had to replace my pump about five months ago or so.  What a pain in the ass.  I think I paid $150 plus a core charge through Napa.  I believe that Rockauto.com was cheaper, but I couldn't wait as mine had completely failed at the bearing and I needed my car.  Most of the time they fail at the bearing on the impeller shaft and that makes quite a bit of noise.  Before you replace the pump and since replacing the fluid helped a little, you might try adding some Lucas Power Steering Sealer and Reconditioner.  I tried that after I replaced the pump when I still had problems.  In my experience, the "stickiness" that you mentioned might be because of the rack and pinion and not the pump.  I put in fresh MaxLife power steering fluid and the Lucas after flushing with the cheapo stuff and it made a world of difference.  I think it was Kirk Doucette who recommended the Lucas restore stuff.  My steering was pulsing, getting hard at low speeds and groaning before I did that and now, three months later, it's still going good.
If you go the pump route, make sure the morons at the parts counter know that you have a SHO and understand what that means as they tried to sell me one for a Vulcan 3 liter.  Good luck, JB