Safely steering your vehicle is one of the most essential parts in ensuring the safety of you, your passengers, and the drivers around you. To ensure that you have a good control of your vehicle, it’s a good idea to maintain your power steering pump. Visiting your local auto shop is a great way to make sure that all the parts of your vehicle, including your steering and power steering part, are in good prime condition.
To start, the power steering pump plays a vital role in helping circulate the fluid under pressure which helps enable the hydraulic piston in the steering gear, making it easier for you to turn the steering wheel itself.
In other words, if you have difficulty turning or taking control of the wheel, there might be a problem of your power steering pump.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Steering Pump
Before trying to replace your power steering pump, you first have to find out if it needs replacement in the first place. There are several ways to find out if you have a bad or failing power steering pump, but here are some of the main reasons.
· Whining noise while turning steering wheel
· Steering wheel is stiff or slow to respond
· Squealing noise during vehicle start
· Groaning noises
If you notice your vehicle have any of these problems, have an experienced mechanic or vehicle repair experts to take a look to find out if it’s directly coming for the power steering pump.
How Do I Replace the Power Steering Pump?
When you decide that your power steering pump needs to be replaced, make sure you got all the right steps tools and equipment needed to do the job. Remember that every car and model is going to be different, so you might need to do some extra steps and require some extra tools just to access your power steering pump.
Unless you’re an experienced mechanic or automotive repair shop, these tools might be difficult to find. Think about sending it to an auto repair shop. Not only would they have the right equipment available, but they will also save you a large amount of time.
1. Turn Off the Engine and Let it Cool
Turning off the engine and letting it cool will ensure your safety when you start working on any part of your vehicle. Wait about 10 minutes until your engine is fully cooled to avoid potential burns and injury.
2. Locate the Power Steering Pump
After accidentally locating your power steering pump, make sure to remove any engine parts that might get in the way of your workspace.
3. Remove the Power-Steering Belt
The piece of equipment is responsible for driving the power system for the pump itself. In most cars, it is usually found in front of the engine and is turned by a pulley on the crankshaft. You might need to locate some bolts and unscrew them to remove the tension on the belt. Once all the bolts are gone, simply tug on the belt and remove it.
4. Draining the Power-Steering Fluid
Since you’re replacing the whole power steering pump, it’s a good idea to remove the fluid also. To do that, place a pan under the pump and drain the fluid by disconnecting the feed and return lines. To make it less messy, use a funnel so the fluid is controlled.
5. Remove Bolts and Mounting Bracket
By this stage, you should have a clear view of your power steering pump. Locate the bolts that are attached to the pump and carefully remove them. Make sure to keep count of the screws and bolts you detach as you will need them again.
6. Gently Remove the Power Steering Pump
After locating the last of the bots and unscrewing them, make sure you have a firm grasp to remove your steering pump. Simply pick up your worn-down pump and place it to the aside. Make sure to check your engine to see if any bolts or screws happen to drop while detaching it.
7. Installation
Grab your brand-new power steering pump and start your installation. Setting aside your bolts and properly makes this process go smoother and quicker. Once in place, make sure to test the sturdiness of the pump and to make sure there is little to no mobility.
8. Reconnect the Feed and Return Lines
As you did before, reconnect the feed and retune lines to the pump. This ensures that everything will operate smoothly once you start your vehicle.
9. Add Back the Power Steering Belt
Using the screws and bolts you used wrap the power steering belt around the pulley. Make sure to put the belt in place where it is sturdy and tight. To do this, simply pull on the belt once you’re all don’t attach everything.
10. Fill the Pump with Power Steering Fluid
It’s always a good idea to add new power steering fluid to go with your brand-new pump. Ensure that your power steering fluid is the best recommended type for your vehicle. Use a funnel to easily fill up your pump and avoid any spills.
11. Turn on the Engine
Turning on the engine will let the fluid circulate in the pump after waiting a few minutes. During this time make sure that there are not any leaks or problems during your installation.
12. Turn the Wheel
If all done correctly, you should have proper control of your steering wheel. This means that turning right and left is smooth and there are no squealing noises happening. Test drive your car a little bit to ensure good quality.
Conclusion
There you have it! The days of straining your arms from turning the steering wheel are over. Replacing your power steering pump might not be the easiest project to do, but there are alternatives! Our shop specializes in fixing up your vehicle and locating problems as they show up. We have experience in replacing power steering pumps, so you don’t have to worry about getting frustrated. Leave the job to our experienced auto technicians and we’ll make sure your steering is all fixed up.