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Power Steering Pump recommendations

B

brenglen

New member
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix Base, 165k

This is my second time replacing my power steering pump in 10 months, the first one cracked and now the second one that I just installed yesterday sounds like a defective pump (Grind noise turned wheel all the way to the left). This pump I bought at Autozone is a Duralast and I'm starting to think they are not very reliable pumps. Does anyone have any recommendations? MasterPro? I would like to go pick one up after work today.

Thanks.
 


Some things are just better going OEM with. PS pump, coil packs, etc. If you're strapped for cash, Morad Parts probably has a used PS pump for cheap.
 
Psssh I'll stick with the cheapo ones from advance. Exchanges are easy and with online coupons a pump is cheap. Oh plus the pumps rather easy to change.
 
im using a duralast p/s pump for like 3 years now, its dead quiet. any pump. idc who makes it, the pump will whine when you pull the wheel to the lock and hold it all the way.
 
Scottydoggs said:
im using a duralast p/s pump for like 3 years now, its dead quiet. any pump. idc who makes it, the pump will whine when you pull the wheel to the lock and hold it all the way.
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They generally use Cardone lol. If the side of the box is red and blue lines with writing, it's cardone
 


Scottydoggs said:
im using a duralast p/s pump for like 3 years now, its dead quiet. any pump. idc who makes it, the pump will whine when you pull the wheel to the lock and hold it all the way.
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My stock pump doesn't whine at all when turning or at the locks. Except when it gets below freezing though. I think it's original.
 
I had bad luck with a reman. a1 cardone from Rockauto. I ended up buying one from Morad and it was golden. It was used but... worked beautifully.
 
Maybe try your luck and run an inline p/s filter for a week and see if that helps prevent a whine. Although I don't think that's an indication its worn out.
 
I got mine to run silently in below freezing weather by running Mobil1 synthetic ATF instead of normal PS fluid, the viscosity at low temps is much better than normal PS fluid. At least I'm assuming that's why it's quiet. I flushed with normal PS fluid while I was changing the lines, and once it ran clear I sent the M1 through until it was coming out the return line. No sense in wasting expensive ATF doing the flush portion, normal PS fluid is crazy cheap.
 


Makes sense. I'd do that, but unfortunately the thick lucas p/s fluid that's in it is all that's keeping it from leaking lol.
 
I got one from advance auto for my 04. I followed their procedure for first startup, and it always whined. Returned it, got a used one from Morad and no problems.
 
nik12937 said:
I got mine to run silently in below freezing weather by running Mobil1 synthetic ATF instead of normal PS fluid, the viscosity at low temps is much better than normal PS fluid. At least I'm assuming that's why it's quiet. I flushed with normal PS fluid while I was changing the lines, and once it ran clear I sent the M1 through until it was coming out the return line. No sense in wasting expensive ATF doing the flush portion, normal PS fluid is crazy cheap.
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That's really interesting, I've heard of cars that use ATF as P/S fluid from the factory, had no idea it had good results in our cars. I should try this.
 


Scottydoggs said:
power steering pump and rack is a hydro pump set up, just like a trans is. ive used ATF fluid for years back in the day.
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True, I just don't generally swap fluids around unless I understand the properties. I'm willing to bet that ATF handles heat much better than P/S fluid.

P/S fluid sure is nasty stuff when it breaks down.
 
get OEM pump. It's really common for them to have a little bit of whine so unless it's just horrible I wouldn't worry about it.

Oddly enough my friend's mother has a 2003 Bonneville SSEi with 320k miles and it's still rocking the original PS pump :lol: . It also still has the original engine and trans. Damn near everything else has been messed with though. They've busted numerous mounts, alternators, coil packs, suspension bits and just recently replaced the supercharger with a junkyard replacement. They never replaced SC oil and were unaware of the common coupler failure. GM 3800 cars are weird
 
Never had to replace ps pump, but i would always go with ac delco. Bought 2 monroe quick struts for 120$ brand new off this crazy lady on craigslist, and she threw in a 2005 impala 3800 ps pump, looks new and ac delco, and 4 rims off a 1994 grand prix. PS pumps are fairly cheap, even oem is less than a hundred bucks, and going with that in the first place would of saved you another 100
 
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