Tough power steering pump
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
Tough power steering pump
My 86 blew the power steering hose on Saturday as I was in the paddock at Infineon Raceway.
It separated at the outside fitting (high pressure) to the steering rack. That blew fluid over that side of the engine, drivers wheel and brake. I drove the car home as it was (about 50 miles of Interstate) and assumed that I would probably have to replace the pump and hose. I had decided to drive toward home and call for a tow if the pump made noise. No noise so I kept driving. Got home, had a new hose within two hours, did the replacement and got back to the track for my last session Saturday. The pump did fine for that trip and 20 minute session and all next day (four sessions and another 100 miles roundtrip).
As I told someone at the track whose BMW was being carried back to San Jose because of a power steering hose failure, there are advantages to driving a Chevy.
By the way, had to use brake cleaner on the driver's side disk and pads for obvious reasons -- let's say something more that a "pull to the right when braking"-- but they were fine afterward (straight and true stops on course at speed).
Would you have expected the pump to burn up?
Steve
It separated at the outside fitting (high pressure) to the steering rack. That blew fluid over that side of the engine, drivers wheel and brake. I drove the car home as it was (about 50 miles of Interstate) and assumed that I would probably have to replace the pump and hose. I had decided to drive toward home and call for a tow if the pump made noise. No noise so I kept driving. Got home, had a new hose within two hours, did the replacement and got back to the track for my last session Saturday. The pump did fine for that trip and 20 minute session and all next day (four sessions and another 100 miles roundtrip).
As I told someone at the track whose BMW was being carried back to San Jose because of a power steering hose failure, there are advantages to driving a Chevy.
By the way, had to use brake cleaner on the driver's side disk and pads for obvious reasons -- let's say something more that a "pull to the right when braking"-- but they were fine afterward (straight and true stops on course at speed).
Would you have expected the pump to burn up?
Steve
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,638
Likes: 3
Yup I would expect you to have pump problems. High pressure caused by high prm turning the pump fast usually you get foaming and blowby out the top of the cap, most guys serious about driving on the track have done something about it. Some go to an underdrive pulley to slow down the turning of the pump - I opted to send my pump to the turnone guys - they rebuild and revalve it to reduce pressure and flow rates. Works like a charm - never had any problem since then!
Carl Johansson
Carl Johansson
My 86 blew the power steering hose on Saturday as I was in the paddock at Infineon Raceway.
It separated at the outside fitting (high pressure) to the steering rack. That blew fluid over that side of the engine, drivers wheel and brake. I drove the car home as it was (about 50 miles of Interstate) and assumed that I would probably have to replace the pump and hose. I had decided to drive toward home and call for a tow if the pump made noise. No noise so I kept driving. Got home, had a new hose within two hours, did the replacement and got back to the track for my last session Saturday. The pump did fine for that trip and 20 minute session and all next day (four sessions and another 100 miles roundtrip).
As I told someone at the track whose BMW was being carried back to San Jose because of a power steering hose failure, there are advantages to driving a Chevy.
By the way, had to use brake cleaner on the driver's side disk and pads for obvious reasons -- let's say something more that a "pull to the right when braking"-- but they were fine afterward (straight and true stops on course at speed).
Would you have expected the pump to burn up?
Steve
It separated at the outside fitting (high pressure) to the steering rack. That blew fluid over that side of the engine, drivers wheel and brake. I drove the car home as it was (about 50 miles of Interstate) and assumed that I would probably have to replace the pump and hose. I had decided to drive toward home and call for a tow if the pump made noise. No noise so I kept driving. Got home, had a new hose within two hours, did the replacement and got back to the track for my last session Saturday. The pump did fine for that trip and 20 minute session and all next day (four sessions and another 100 miles roundtrip).
As I told someone at the track whose BMW was being carried back to San Jose because of a power steering hose failure, there are advantages to driving a Chevy.
By the way, had to use brake cleaner on the driver's side disk and pads for obvious reasons -- let's say something more that a "pull to the right when braking"-- but they were fine afterward (straight and true stops on course at speed).
Would you have expected the pump to burn up?
Steve
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
Good advice, Carl, and I did notice a little fluid on top of the reservoir after sessions.
But, my big surprise was that I could drive over 50 miles with no fluid in the reservoir or pump without causing damage. At least the reservoir was completely dry and the hose was disconnected at the steering rack.
But, my big surprise was that I could drive over 50 miles with no fluid in the reservoir or pump without causing damage. At least the reservoir was completely dry and the hose was disconnected at the steering rack.
