Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) bombing the pwr steer pump/vac pump brace

[GAmes]

There is an L shaped brace that supports the pumps and bolts to a bracket on the engine. The original bolt vibrated out. I replaced it and and later found the head of the bolt sheared off. I dremeled a slot into the bolt shank, removed it with a screwdriver and replaced it again. Once again it sheared but this time I managed to ruin the engine brace. It requires removing the pumps to remove the brace. I have them off now, and I have a new brace. I'm thinking about drilling and tapping the stock 8mm hole to 5/16 and installing an 8 grade bolt. I don't have a tap that size so will have to farm it out. I guess my question is, am I alone having problems with this bolt?

 

[hsmith]

Hey Gary,

I have not seen any, but don't work on that many either. Are the threads in the block pulled? If so, you will have to go larger than 5/16 as it and 8mm are almost identical in diameter.

Take a drive back to the Hill Country. I probably have what taps you need.

Later

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have had trouble here but not with the bolts. I had one brace break and if I remember right fall out but not 100% sure on that but I did get a new one from Cummins. More recently the loop broke off the power steering pump end so I welded it back on and used a large flat washer to distribute the load a bit more. I have never had a bolt break or fall out here, just trouble with the bracket. I did have the head pop off the bolt holding the back end of the injection pump once though. 387k miles cause a lot of vibrations.



I think a key might be getting all the tension off the part by carefully tightening each side a little at a time or something to make sure both ends are fully seated since it is a 90 deg. you could easily put it in a bind if not careful. I don't see any need to put in a larger bolt if installed with care. If you go to big you will loose some of your wobble room needed to get a perfect fit.

 

[GAmes]

Hey Gary,

I have not seen any, but don't work on that many either. Are the threads in the block pulled? If so, you will have to go larger than 5/16 as it and 8mm are almost identical in diameter.

Take a drive back to the Hill Country. I probably have what taps you need.

Later

Thanks any way Smitty.

I meant to post 7/16 This morning I rooted around my tool collection and found a 3/8 tap, so that is what I went to. CP, I was thinking the same thing, needed a little wobble room. I also put a washer between the L bracket and the pwr steer pump to line everything up a little better. When I fired it up to check for leaks I discovered that during the R & R of the pumps for rebuild I had managed to break the oil pressure switch. #@$%!#@$%!#@$%! Of course it's a dealer only item, and the warehouse is on back order. My friendly parts guy did fnd one in Temple though so I'll get it in the morn. Man I do love this mechanican thing in the heat and humidity of central Texas!!

 

[CumminsPower98]

Glad you got it together. These oil pressure senders are not dealer only, at least not for my '98 12 valve. Here is the carquest number: PS-291. I have bought a couple of those and one dealer. They look exactly the same and cost close to the same. Maybe they are different for '97 but I figured they were probably the same. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway you got it covered now...

 

[GAmes]

It's only 2 blocks out of the way to check Car Quest. I rarely go there and since NAPA didn't have it I figured dealer only. You may have saved me 40 miles worth of gas. Thanks!

 

[GAmes]

It turns out that the 97 is different. It is P/N PS-233 and costs roughly half of the PS-297 Thanks again!!

 

[CumminsPower98]

Ok, good to know they are different. I had never bought one for anything other than my '98 so wasn't sure.