Power Steering Pump Needs A Reseal?

[ED.]

Took my car in last weekend and one of the items requiring attention was the power steering pump.

The notes say its leaking and requires a reseal. Estimate was $700 total.

Do they mean it needs to be taken out and rebuilt with new internals like gaskets and what not?

[apna garage]

Hi ED,

They are correct but from my experience if your car has over 100,000 miles and/or if the pump is making noise, you are better off with a new one..

[curiousB]

You can rebuild the pump with new seals. At dealer labor rates I think its cheaper to put in a new or rebuilt unit though.

http://www.lexls.com/tutorials/steering/pspumprebuild.html

[TA in KC]

When the power steering pump began to leak on my previous 92 LS, I had it replaced with a remanufactured one that came from a local auto parts store. The cost was hundreds of dollars less than a new one from the dealer and it was still working great at the time I sold the car. If I remember correctly, the replacement pump actually cost about the same as the rebuild kit did- one of those might be something to think about.

[1990LS400]

Ed, have you verified that your power steering pump is leaking fluid? The reason I ask is that the PS pumps on the 98-00 LS400 are "bullet proof" comparied to the ones on the early LS.

[Dan in NC]

Got a '98 LS....250+K miles. Pump finally leaking some

down onto the Alt. (which is new....and how we found out about PS fluid leak)

Advised to get that pump chgd asap.

Any suggestions on the best aftermarket PS Pump...best guess on price and reliability?

And...possibly related....

Lately....VSC warning lite came on... after stopping for gas on a hot long drive.

Advance Auto Parts next door....so I run over and have alt chkd. No charging!

In middle of making arrangements for another alt replcmnt....lite goes off....chk chg'g

and now the alt is charging good.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Dan in NC