Thread: Power steering pump or bad rack and pinon?

I really don't want this whining to be a bad rack and pinon unit, so I'm hoping that the noise that's identical to a bad hydraulic pump really is a bad hydraulic pump. How can I tell for sure? When the RPMs drop, the steering gets more and more difficult. Steering gets easier with even idle speed (no s*, right?), but it also gets easier as the RPMs come up off of idle. All of this indicate bad pump to me, but I'd like yalls input. Thanks!

Whining noise is the pump. Have you checked fluid levels?

I have, indeed. The last time I checked hydraulic fluid was about 3-4 days ago. It was a tad bit low, but I also know how particular these cars can be with low fluid so I brought it up to JUUUUUUUST a bit over full.

I'd replace the pump. If it has fluid and still whines and you're steering is stiff or agitates. They aren't that expensive, they're easy to do.

Do you have your finger on the pulse of who I should be sourcing these parts from? I'm talking like Duralast or Federal-Mogul. Worry not, I will NOT use anything house brand on my cars. I see that ZZP has a unit for $45. Lol, of course, they also have the $330 electric pump, but my account and wife both say STFU on that.

Originally Posted by ricksgpgtcolleen

Do you have your finger on the pulse of who I should be sourcing these parts from? I'm talking like Duralast or Federal-Mogul. Worry not, I will NOT use anything house brand on my cars. I see that ZZP has a unit for $45. Lol, of course, they also have the $330 electric pump, but my account and wife both say STFU on that.

What century are you from?? lol

Um I bought a reman a-1 cardone pump from rockauto and it was absolute junk. I bought one from Ed Morad and it worked like a dream. Not sure on a new/reman brand worth buying

Forsooth, young man, what ever could you mean? LOL

The one you got from Morad, was it a used one or does he dabble in the new stuff now?

Are the seals the only reason that these pumps go bad? Are there internals that tend to lunch themselves? How much of a PITA is it to rebuild the pump on my own?

The one from morad are used but they test their parts. And if it is bad they replace it without hassle.

And if I didn't go Morad route... I would get one of the delco pumps from Rockauto either the reman or the new one. Not sure how the delco reman is compared to duralast or some crap though.

im using a duralast p/s pump, for the last 2 years now, it makes not a sound wheel turns like butter at idle in park.