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| Power Steering Pump Leak |
| It all started
when I tried to fit non-original drive belts. I had no problem matching the
set for the crank / water pump, and the alternator
/ water pump. However, the long set
of belts for the steering pump, airconditioning
pump and crank
proved to be a problem. The local metric belts were either too long, or too short. |
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| After forcing on the
non-original belts, which were too tight, all the steering fluid started leaking out. |
As
I could not locate the leak with the pump in situ, there was no alternative but to remove it for closer inspection. |
| To prevent further
drainage of fluid, and ingress of dirt, I blanked off the pipes with rubber chair-leg plugs. |
I
had to manufacture my own tool for holding the pulley in place in order to remove the pulley retaining nut. |
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| This
picture shows the homemade tool mentioned above. The manual suggests slackening the bolt while the pump is still on the car, using the tension of the drive belts to hold the pulley in place. I tried this, but instead of loosening the bolt, I simply turned the engine over! |
The
pump housing finally separated from the reservoir, probably for the first time in 34 years! |
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| This
is the sealing ring between the pump housing and the reservoir. It has become hard and brittle with time. By forcing on the non-original drive belts I must have disturbed the seal, resulting in the fluid leak. |
The
new seal cost just R5, less than the price of a beer! I lubricated the seal with petroleum jelly to avoid seal distortion when fitting the reservoir. |
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| Before
fitting the pump to the car I filled it with fluid to test for leaks. |
Another
home-made tool. I ground a slot into a crowbar to avoid it from slipping when tensioning the drive belts, using the pump front pivot bracket and a block of wood as leverage. |
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The
power steering pump installed, primed and ready for road testing. |
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