Power steering pump question...

[bigdon-70blazer]

I replaced the 1970 Blazers power steering pump last year around May and drove it around last summer. I had a little issue that the pump fluid sort of boiled or foamed itself out the top cap hole while I was getting the bugs first worked out and I figured that was normal and the problem went away for the balance of last year. Fast forward to this year when I drive it about 10 miles away for some touch up paint and shake down after winter storage. Foaming out cap returns now with vengence. The pump sounde horrible and I decided that I was going to replace it with another pump from auto zone because it has never been completely quiet since installation when I replaced the original one. My question is this, it seems that to get the hoses to go thru the brackets, they seem real tight and tightly cornered to get them to go thru there. the metal tube on the back of the pump, the return hose side seems to be bent from the factory in such a way that I have no choice but to go thru the bracket and I am asking because it may have too much of a bend that it it impeding the flow and causing this foaming action. Anybody seen this? I showed the guys at O'Reillys and they were baffled and replaced my pump. I asked them if I could bend the metal tube around a little so that the angle would allow a more easy bend in this area. They said that is the way it is supposed to be. I do believe I had the sides hooked up correctly. Help. Any pics of how yourcame out would be great, especially original application!

[drunkbus]

I had the same problem with the metal tube on the back of my new pump. The new ones have it bent in the wrong direction and it's aimed right at the bracket. It's a tight fit but I got mine to work. Maybe try different size belts to get it where it might clear better. The noise and foaming problem sounds like you didn't get all the air blead out of the system.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by drunkbus

I had the same problem with the metal tube on the back of my new pump. The new ones have it bent in the wrong direction and it's aimed right at the bracket. It's a tight fit but I got mine to work. Maybe try different size belts to get it where it might clear better. The noise and foaming problem sounds like you didn't get all the air blead out of the system.

^^^i agree or you still have an air leak, tight bends are not good, restricts the flow...but, I don't think that would cause the foaming. Mine isn't original, so no help there, but someone on here has to have an original set up that you can follow

[bigdon-70blazer]

Here is the problem, the tube is bent in the wrong direction which you both already knew. Now here are some pics that bear it out. Can I gently bend the tube? Why did they do this?

[bigdon-70blazer]

Another dumb question but how do you "bleed" the air out of the system?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by bigdon-70blazer

Another dumb question but how do you "bleed" the air out of the system?

When I was rebuilding them on a regular basis I raised the front wheels off the ground and started the engine and worked the wheels back and forth with no weight on them. That seemed to be the best method for me.

One side note: Use only real power steering in these and not atf. And get Genuine GM power steering fluid if possible. That is one key to preventing foaming and excess noise as atf will cause both. I flushed a lot of power steering systems that had atf in them and put the correct power steering fluid in the to get rid of noise in them. This is one of those places that getting by cheap doesn't cut it.

[mustardjimmy71]

can u notch the bracket? it looks pretty beefy

[bigdon-70blazer]

It is beefy and it may affect the structural integrity too much, at least that is my thoughts...

[99-LS1-SS]

Where did you get the pump from?

[rsavage]

I would see if you could find a rebuilt pump with the return line nipple pointing in the right direction -up. Not all of them were made pointing to the left as evidenced by the original type in your second photo.

[drunkbus]

Here's a link to rebuilding a power steering pump on a corvette. They look nearly identical. It looks like the metal stub tube is connected to the reservoir housing and you should be able to swap your old reservoir housing onto your new pump. Scroll down to #29 through #33.

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/stee...g-rebuild.html

[drunkbus]

Wish I would have researched this for myself before I threw my old pump away.

[72lb4x4]

The pumps are mostly all the same.

You can buy a bare pump, and swap the correct can/res from the old one so it fits right. This is a bit of a pain but its what I had to do after many trips to the parts store and not finding the correct part.

[bigdon-70blazer]

Wish I had done that before delivering it to the store as a core return...Gladly have paid that to have the old one back...

[tcb-1]

interesting, never heard of this sort of issue. yep, the foaming is more than likely being caused by a small air leak.

has anyone a good pic of a power steering pump with the nipple down?

[robs71k5]

Hope you put the front end up on jack stands and rotated the wheels back and forth slowly with engine off before starting truck .This will help fill ingest the pump with fluid. And the whining notice should quickly disappear