Power steering bearing leak?

deep1ca · Post by **deep1ca** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:27 am

My car is leaking power steering fluid, it isnt a large leak, it has never puddled and ive never seen drips in the drive way. Last week my steering felt a little heavy so i checked the fluid, when i popped the hood i noticed there was fluid all over and around the reservoir/pump, it was on the belts, the pulleys, on the back of the headlight, some on the alternator, and even on the inside of the hood. It looked like it had leaked onto the belt which had splattered it everywhere. I took a look around and didn't see any visible area where it could be leaking from.

Anyways i topped it up.

Today I noticed the steering getting heavy again, i popped the hood and once again there is power steering fluid splattered around the pump.

I took it into a local shop n the mechanic took a quick look and told me hes pretty sure the power steering bearing is gone and its leaking from there onto the pulleys and belt. He told me the pump needs to be replaced.

What do you guys think? Do the symptoms fit a messed up power steering bearing ?

P.S. The reservoir cap was on properly at all times.

DoubtedNeon · Post by **DoubtedNeon** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:34 am

hmm...no offence to mechanics in here but ive never trusted them ever in my whole life.

but in this case, he could be correct...im not sure i dont know alot about this kind of thing, just a heads up to be leary

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:46 am

well I would go with it unless you have a better Idea. What is the price range they gave you for repairs.

deep1ca · Post by **deep1ca** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:52 am

thttxboy wrote:well I would go with it unless you have a better Idea. What is the price range they gave you for repairs.

$120 for a used/refurbished pump + $60 labour

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:54 am

not a bad price. tell him to get it done by the end of the day.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:57 am

yeah that isn't a bad price at all.

Where exactly is the Steering fluid pump? is that the "rack"? If so I have an extra laying around.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:12 pm

This may seem like a dumb question, but how much fluid are you putting in it? Are you filling it to the top?

hansken_yo wrote:yeah that isn't a bad price at all.

Where exactly is the Steering fluid pump? is that the "rack"? If so I have an extra laying around.

The pump is mounted right above the A/C compressor Yo.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:15 pm

thanks for the clarification. I forgot about that part....

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:41 pm

Most folks forget about it since the only time we worry about it is when it screws up on us

deep1ca · Post by **deep1ca** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:27 pm

Danteneon wrote:This may seem like a dumb question, but how much fluid are you putting in it? Are you filling it to the top?

hansken_yo wrote:yeah that isn't a bad price at all.

Where exactly is the Steering fluid pump? is that the "rack"? If so I have an extra laying around.
The pump is mounted right above the A/C compressor Yo.

I'm not filling it up to the top, im filling it up to where it says "Full" on the dipstick.

OB · Post by OB » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:38 pm

Danteneon wrote:Most folks forget about it since the only time we worry about it is when it screws up on us

Shit I check mine monthly

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:54 pm

If it is overheating for some reason it will push fliud out also. Have them check the cooler underneath while they're at it. The seal may be bad, which most likely requires replacement of the pump. Replacing the seal at the bearing would prolly cost more than the pump. The seal for the resivior may be another matter. Some Redline PS fluid wouldn't hurt either.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:02 am

OB wrote:
Danteneon wrote:Most folks forget about it since the only time we worry about it is when it screws up on us
Shit I check mine monthly

I said most. You are a freak

I just wanted to be sure you weren't falling into the trap that some others had. The PS level is pretty important, and overfilling it will cause the fluid to come out of the pump, especially when driving the car hard.

As far as fluid type goes, I really like the Lucas