How to tell when PS pump has gone out?

[Bill Cool]

OK - since I got home from college last month and took the Stang outta the garage, it's been leaking out some kinda fluid in the driveway. I assume it's PS fluid, because I've had to fill up the pump several times in the past 3 weeks (this happened right before I put it away for the winter in October too). Does this sound like the pump spitting fluid, or a hose leaking? The leak is dropping from the passenger side of the car, but my driveway is at a 40* angle, so it could be running down a hose from the pump or something. Any ideas???

EDIT: Now that I've taken a look at my Chilton's, it actually seems like it's dripping down from the rubber boot "thingy" (bellows?) on the passenger side of the rack. Is my rack shot?
Besides this leak, the steering works perfectly...

 

[Bill Cool]

OK, so after getting under there, as I expected, the passenger side of the K-member is covered w/greasy grime. Both boots on the rack had gunk built up between the accordian folds, but the passenger side fold closest to the engine had what looked like fresh fluid in it. Also, when I pulled the boot back and forth (opened and closed the accordian), it make a sound like it was sucking in and pushing out air which the driver side did not. I assume this to mean my boot has a hole/cut which is letting fluid out and, most likely, dirt in, which will mean a quick death for my rack. Is there any way to just replace the boot? Is this a DIY job, or am I looking at shop time? Either way, how much cash?

Sorry for the blurriness of the pic, but it was taken w/my left hand. This is the fold that's causing the trouble, but I can't see any splits anywhere...

 

[HISSIN50]

i would toss a new/reman'd rack in it. i could not make out much in your pic (my fault), but if there is fluid leaking out of the rack, a seal on it likely died out. it is normally more cost effective to replace the rack than doing little parts (next week another part will fail, etc). they can be had for about 100 bucks or so.
my two cents worth.
good luck.

 

[TheBocSez]

Mines doing the exact same thing. Was told it was some type of seal in the rack going out. I poured in a bottle of power steering stop leak and it has slowed it down quite a bit, but Im planning on doing the el cheapo manual rack swap soon.

Who knows, maybe yours isnt as bad and the stop like will totally cure yours.

Either wait till it runs low on its own and pour it in, or disconnect the low pressure hose (bottom of pump, attached with a hose clamp) and let it drain, then pour the stop leak in.

Good Luck

 

[Michael Yount]

The boots don't seal hydraulic pressure in the rack - they just keep dirt/grime out of the inner tie rod joints. If you've got p/s fluid leaking out the boots it's because the rack seal on that side has given up. It's probably new rack time. Is your pump making new/different noises? Sometimes the pump begins to go and bits and pieces of things can leave the pump and mess up the rack. So you need to be sure the pump is ok before replacing the rack. You wouldn't want a bad pump to damage the new rack also. Alternatively, throw a new/rebuilt pump in when you do the rack. They're not that expensive, and it's good insurance that the new rack is gonna perform like it should for a long time.

 

[Bill Cool]

Thanks guys. I'll start looking at some racks. Any ideas on places that have good deals, or should I just try AutoZone, etc? Can I do this at home, or is it better to have a shop do it? I've got a Chilton's, and I've rebuilt the top half of the motor before, so I'm a pretty good wrench - but I don't have a lift or compressor or anything...

I'll also try that stop leak deal next time she runs low...

Any replacement how-to writeups anywhere online?

 

[HISSIN50]

swapping a rack is not too hard. the biggest hassle is figuring out which one you need. ive heard napa's are ok (also heard that they suck, just as i had heard of other reman'd units). probably does not matter. they seem to go for around 100 bucks. reman'd pump can be had for 40.

make sure you get the correct bushings (one or two piece). mine came with the wrong ones (as have others). i would get some urethane ones ahead of time.

i dont think impact is necessary for anything (it is nice on the mile long bolts that hold the rack on). with your skills, it should be no problem (academic bolting and unbolting).
you will need an alignment afterwards.
good luck.

 

[Michael Yount]

As Hissin' says, you can mangage it. Don't use StopLeak on anything -- it just puts off, and often makes worse, a problem that will ultimately have to be solved by replacing or rebuilding something.

 

[Bill Cool]

Thanks guys. Is there a write-up anywhere online? Chilton's didn't seem to be too detailed and didn't have any pics. I've never done this before obviously, and neither has my dad, so we're gonna need all the help we can get.