Help changing power steering pump - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BrookelynnGreen · 01-12-2012, 03:09 PM

My truck squeels and the steering is hard to turn sometimes. I priced a power steering pump and it will cost around 35 dollars. Can someone please tell me the steps of replacing a power steering pump, and how would I draind the power steering fluid?

THANK YOU
Posted via Mobile Device

P.S. I called a shop, they said it will cost 315.00 +tax to replace the power steering pump, I want to learn to do it myself.

lilpoindexter · 01-12-2012, 09:26 PM

Suck out as much fluid as you can with a turkey baster or mityvac, so you don't stain your driveway (as much).
Get you some flare wrenches, and disconnect the threaded fitting at the pump
Disconnect the return line, probably held on with a hose clamp.
Find the thingy (power steering pump, alternator, smog pump, etc) that moves to adjust belt tension on the belt on the ps pump - loosen that thing to remove belt tension. Take off the belt.
Find the bolts that hold the ps pump in place. remove them. pull them off, remove the pump. You will spill fluid all over the floor and your clothes.
Most pumps don't come with the pulley, so you will need a pulley tool. They sell a cheap one at harbor freight...if you use it...it will work, but it feels like a frustrating, cheap made in china tool - because it is. You will use the same tool to put your old pulley on the new pump.
Reverse all your other steps, and BAM new PS pump.
To bleed it, jack up the front of the truck, and turn the wheel back and forth a million times until you see no bubbles in the reservoir. Top off the fluid to the correct cold level, reverify again when hot, at the hot mark.

OH...you will probably want to flush the system before you put the new pump on, just to get the crud out.

BrookelynnGreen · 01-12-2012, 09:31 PM

What symptoms come when you need to replace the power steering gear??
Posted via Mobile Device

lilpoindexter · 01-12-2012, 09:49 PM

It makes a big racket...maybe your belt is just loose...tighten it up, and see if that helps...if the belt is old and stretched, put a new belt on it....Oh...you said the gear...Hmmm...the only rack I ever had to replace was on a foreign car where it would not return to center..maybe someone else can chime in.

BrookelynnGreen · 01-12-2012, 09:54 PM

I have a 454, will I have to buy a ps pump for a 454 or will a 350 ps pump work on it? And I also noticed that the cap for my ps pump is missing

could that be the problem?
Posted via Mobile Device

01-12-2012, 03:09 PM	#1
BrookelynnGreen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 125	Help changing power steering pump My truck squeels and the steering is hard to turn sometimes. I priced a power steering pump and it will cost around 35 dollars. Can someone please tell me the steps of replacing a power steering pump, and how would I draind the power steering fluid? THANK YOU Posted via Mobile Device P.S. I called a shop, they said it will cost 315.00 +tax to replace the power steering pump, I want to learn to do it myself. __________________ -Samuel "Knowledge Is Power"

01-12-2012, 09:26 PM	#2
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,134	Re: Help changing power steering pump Suck out as much fluid as you can with a turkey baster or mityvac, so you don't stain your driveway (as much). Get you some flare wrenches, and disconnect the threaded fitting at the pump Disconnect the return line, probably held on with a hose clamp. Find the thingy (power steering pump, alternator, smog pump, etc) that moves to adjust belt tension on the belt on the ps pump - loosen that thing to remove belt tension. Take off the belt. Find the bolts that hold the ps pump in place. remove them. pull them off, remove the pump. You will spill fluid all over the floor and your clothes. Most pumps don't come with the pulley, so you will need a pulley tool. They sell a cheap one at harbor freight...if you use it...it will work, but it feels like a frustrating, cheap made in china tool - because it is. You will use the same tool to put your old pulley on the new pump. Reverse all your other steps, and BAM new PS pump. To bleed it, jack up the front of the truck, and turn the wheel back and forth a million times until you see no bubbles in the reservoir. Top off the fluid to the correct cold level, reverify again when hot, at the hot mark. OH...you will probably want to flush the system before you put the new pump on, just to get the crud out.

01-12-2012, 09:31 PM	#3
BrookelynnGreen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 125	Re: Help changing power steering pump What symptoms come when you need to replace the power steering gear?? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ -Samuel "Knowledge Is Power"

01-12-2012, 09:49 PM	#4
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,134	Re: Help changing power steering pump It makes a big racket...maybe your belt is just loose...tighten it up, and see if that helps...if the belt is old and stretched, put a new belt on it....Oh...you said the gear...Hmmm...the only rack I ever had to replace was on a foreign car where it would not return to center..maybe someone else can chime in.

01-12-2012, 09:54 PM	#5
BrookelynnGreen Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 125	Re: Help changing power steering pump I have a 454, will I have to buy a ps pump for a 454 or will a 350 ps pump work on it? And I also noticed that the cap for my ps pump is missing could that be the problem? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ -Samuel "Knowledge Is Power"



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