Power steering pump tube
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: San Antonio Texas
Power steering pump tube
I'm replacing the P.S. pump on my LT4. I've got the pulley off but before I go any farther, I wanted to ask how the large low pressure tube is fastened to the pump. It looks like a press fit but I don't want to screw it up trying to remove it without knowing the correct way to get it out or put it into the new pump.
Team Owner
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I'm replacing the P.S. pump on my LT4. I've got the pulley off but before I go any farther, I wanted to ask how the large low pressure tube is fastened to the pump. It looks like a press fit but I don't want to screw it up trying to remove it without knowing the correct way to get it out or put it into the new pump.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,253
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley CA
The tube will be part of the replacement pump(I got the A1 Cardone at O'reilly's). Be sure to note the orientation of the hose clamps attaching the tube to the hose. If you rotate the clamps to a more convenient location for tightening it, the clamps may interfere and immobilize the idler pulley, resulting in the belt flatspotting the pulley and requiring a new idler pulley. Ask me how I know!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,218
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
Thanks for the reply. I haven't bought a replacement pump yet. I was going to try a tip I saw about using a pump from a 94-96 Caprice station wagon with the LT1 engine. It is supposed to be the same pump except for the pressure valve and a lot cheaper (I'm big time into cheap)
I was going to take the pump off and compare it to the pump at PepBoys, or one of the other auto parts stores, side by side to make sure all of the angles and fittings all point in the correct directions etc. Didn't know that tube was part of it
! That thing is a yard long on the LT4. Don't know if they are the same on an LT1 or not. It goes all the way under the front pulley and up to the reservoir on the passenger side. That may be the game changer right there for the cheap-o replacement.
I was going to take the pump off and compare it to the pump at PepBoys, or one of the other auto parts stores, side by side to make sure all of the angles and fittings all point in the correct directions etc. Didn't know that tube was part of it
! That thing is a yard long on the LT4. Don't know if they are the same on an LT1 or not. It goes all the way under the front pulley and up to the reservoir on the passenger side. That may be the game changer right there for the cheap-o replacement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,253
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley CA
Thanks for the reply. I haven't bought a replacement pump yet. I was going to try a tip I saw about using a pump from a 94-96 Caprice station wagon with the LT1 engine. It is supposed to be the same pump except for the pressure valve and a lot cheaper (I'm big time into cheap)
I was going to take the pump off and compare it to the pump at PepBoys, or one of the other auto parts stores, side by side to make sure all of the angles and fittings all point in the correct directions etc. Didn't know that tube was part of it! That thing is a yard long on the LT4. Don't know if they are the same on an LT1 or not. It goes all the way under the front pulley and up to the reservoir on the passenger side. That may be the game changer right there for the cheap-o replacement.
I was going to take the pump off and compare it to the pump at PepBoys, or one of the other auto parts stores, side by side to make sure all of the angles and fittings all point in the correct directions etc. Didn't know that tube was part of it
! That thing is a yard long on the LT4. Don't know if they are the same on an LT1 or not. It goes all the way under the front pulley and up to the reservoir on the passenger side. That may be the game changer right there for the cheap-o replacement.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,218
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From: San Antonio Texas
Yea, I saw that. The rubber section on mine must be the original cause it is crimped to the metal with steel crimped fittings. I guess if I was careful about it, I could cut the tube there and clamp my own rubber piece in there and save the trouble of trying to replace that whole long piece of hose/tubing.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,218
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From: San Antonio Texas
I can see clearly now!
Well, the more stuff I took off, the better I could see down in there. That hose connection I thought was a permanently crimped connection was indeed a grip ring that had the grips turned around where you couldn't see them till the pump was loose and tilted away from the bracket. Sidney004's post about clamps is a lot more clear to me now. Finally got everything off and removed that big bracket that mounts EVERYTHING on the driver side of the car. Changing the rack too, so it sure made the room open up down there. The more I take off, the more I find to redo.
The cheap pump substitute is not even close to a match.
It was recommended in an old post here that a 94 -96 Caprice station wagon pump would sub for the LTx pump. Looked it up and went to compare them side by side. Not even close. It might fit a Greyhound Bus, but no way will it fit a 96 Corvette. Spent the money on the Corvette correct pump that will be in tomorrow. Thanks for all the help.
The cheap pump substitute is not even close to a match.
It was recommended in an old post here that a 94 -96 Caprice station wagon pump would sub for the LTx pump. Looked it up and went to compare them side by side. Not even close. It might fit a Greyhound Bus, but no way will it fit a 96 Corvette. Spent the money on the Corvette correct pump that will be in tomorrow. Thanks for all the help.
