When I started to do this project, this car has had a power steering leak for some time now. I’ve always suspected it to be the power steering lines from the pump to the rack & pinion steering unit because there is always fresh oil on them after driving that’s always led a path to the back of the engine. It always looked like the pressure line or from the return line. Now finally getting to this repair I had noticed that the power steering pump itself was showing its own symptoms of problems even while filled with power steering fluid.
The symptoms were whining, hard to turn the steering wheel and even the plastic reservoir is showing fresh fluid outside of it, itself. So now we are at this point believing the power steering pump may be our real culprit. We start the repair and we picked up a used power steering pump from a recycling yard.
This pump is the best and the cleanest one we could find. First, we put two pans under the car. The first one a huge stainless steel one which would cover the whole engine compartment of the vehicle down below and the other one hoping to catch the majority of it.
Then we disconnect the lines, trying to be careful not to lose that much fluid that comes out of the pump reservoir. ( After all, we don’t want a big giant mess for a small repair.) Now on your pressure line, you will need 2 different sizes open-end wrenches to remove this line and the air filter box should be removed when doing this repair also.
Once your lines are all off and taken out of the way you can undo the two bolts holding the power steering pump on the end of the engine to intake side upper cam. Then once you have all that off and before you reinstall your new pump check for inside the reservoir for any old fluid. Empty as much as you can, put some new fluid back in it, THEN reinstall it and just install your lines first so no fluid leaks out. Don’t tighten them the pressure line. All you want is enough to stop any fluid from coming out and slip on the return line making sure the clamp is still on it. Then reinstall the two bolts mounting the pump back on the engine and top the fluid off. Reinstall your cap and don’t forget to tighten down your pressure line or your clamp for your return line at this point. Then put your air filter box back on. Then take it out for a victory cruise and it’s also a good way to test for any leaks. Job well done and don’t forget to clean up your work area!