How to Change a Power Steering Pump - Replace Power Steering Pump

This is the era of swank new cars and extremely efficient engines. Hydraulic power steering, amazing tire suspension and overall a great driving experience is the order of the day. Hydraulic power steering amongst other things have made a lot of difference to the way cars are driven. So how does a power steering work and what are its components? Lets check out.

Well, hydraulic power steering is a hydraulic steering system, which reduces the steering effort on cars by exerting a hydraulic pressure, helping in turning of the wheels. This mechanism consists of a steer torque detector, controlled pressure distributor case, hydraulic booster pump, tank with a working liquid and connection hoses. Now, if the pump has developed a defect and is not working properly, the safety and security of the driver is hampered. Then, to ensure that the car is in a perfect condition, you would need to change the pump. That will be a part of your power steering trouble shooting. And that, is precisely the thing, to replace power steering pump is going to be elaborated in the points to follow. So hang in there to know, how to change a power steering pump!

Changing The Power Steering Pump

1. The first thing you do is loosen the car engine drive belt and let the belt slip over the power steering pump pulley. For sucking as much as power steering fluid, use a suction pump. Disconnect the lines and fluid return hose, after placing the drain pan beneath the pump. Drain the fluid and other things totally. There could be a need to remove the air cleaner housing for reaching to the return hose.
2. For preventing the leakage, block the ends of all the lines. Detach the electric power steering pump from the engine by removing the mounting fasteners. Make sure that you pull it totally free from the car and inspect it to see if there is any glitch.
3. Now check out and measure how far is the protrusion of the pump shaft from the face of the pulley hub. That is, if the removal of the pulley is necessary for the access to the pump, which is the case with some engines.
4. This set up requires to be installed again in appropriate positioning, once the new pump is installed.
5. Now implementing the reverse removal procedure, replace power steering pump. Ensure all the fasteners are fitted properly. Now let the power steering system bleed for a few moments. Now bleeding here refers to letting out the excess air in the system and fill the appropriate liquid. Check out the repair manual for that and if there are any other issues.

Now in this context, there is also something called power steering pump rebuild, which can help you with the power steering and allied things further. This was a very generic description of how to change a power steering pump or replace power steering pump. Now if you have, for example a Ford F 150, then lets see how to replace power steering pump. Which, perhaps will not be tough, once you know the basics of how to change a power steering pump.

Changing the Power Steering Pump in Ford F 150

• Now first thing, is the same as mentioned previously, that is, draining out the power steering fluid from the pump and collect it in the container. In this car, the pump is on the driver's side of the engine. From the back of the power steering pump, remove both input and output hoses. Attach both the hoses using a nut, located at the end of each hose.
• Wrench loose the nuts and pull the hoses away from the pump allowing the fluid to drain in the container.
• For the pump belt to slacken, loosen the pump's adjustment bolt using a wrench. Now, lift the belt away from the power steering pump pulley. Then, where the pump meets the mounting bracket, at the bottom of the pump, you would find the adjustment bolt there.
• Get the pump out of the engine compartment by removing the retaining bolts of the pumps with a wrench.
• Position the replacement pump in the appropriate position and then reinstall the retaining bolts, through the mounting bracket. However, do not tighten the bolts as soon as you do this.
• Again install the 2 hoses removed earlier to the back of the pump and place the pump of the belt above the pulley in front of the pump.
• Follow that up with pulling the pump away from the engine for tightening the tension on the belt. Now tighten the pump's retaining bolts.
• Finally, you are almost done. The last thing you do is fill the power steering pump with power steering fluid. That has to be around ½ inch of the top part. Start the engine and bleed the air out of the steering system by turning the wheel alternatively to right and left. Turning off the engine, check the fluid level of the pump and add more, if you feel it is not enough.

So that's it. That was my effort of explaining the process of how to replace power steering pump. I know, it is not as easy as the written description seems to be.

But then, I hope its not extremely out of the normal human capabilities. Go for it. Pump it up!