Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Gould seal-kit vacume-pump

[MYeary]

Getting ready to install this kit when it gets here, leaking oil everywhere. any tips on making this easyer will be greatly helpfull

 

[Ram4Sam]

Watch the video, it helps. Take out the driver side battery and intake tube. The ps pump lines will be hard as a rock and almost impossible to slip off. You can try heating them a bit with a heat gun,I just cut mine as close as possible and there was enough extra hose to slip back on. Dump all the ps fluid out of the pump, good time to change it. Remove the vac pump/ps pump as a unit and separate them on the workbench, re-assemble on the bench and install. When you fire it back up, get the front wheels off the ground, you will have turn it lock to lock quite a few times to get all the air out. When you are done, have a few beers, you earned it.



Sam

 

[drag racer]

Excellent advice Ram4Sam. I have the kit and watched the video but have not had to do the job... yet. The video is excellent and leaves no stone unturned... just follow it and you should be fine.

 

[fkovalski]

I power washed with Gunk before I did the repair on my '01. Cleaner is easier.

 

[HookMeUp]

Do not remove any of the power steering lines as it is bear to purge the air out the system. You can leave them hooked up. As Sam said remove the battery and intake tube to gain some clearance. Remove the power steering pump from the vacuum pump and just set it aside. Rebuilding the pump is the easiest part of the whole job. Of course this is JMO.

 

[Sticks]

I've never re-sealed a vacuum pump, but have replaced dozens.



As HookMeUp stated, leave the PS pump where it is. You don't really even need to remove the battery or intake. Get what PS mounting bolts you can from the top, and the rest from underneath. Same with the 2 vacuum pump mounting bolts.



Ditto the cleaning before you start. Try to wash the underside as well.



When you are ready to install the vacuum pump, make a note of the alignment groves in the vacuum pump and pre clock the PS pump before you slide it in (IIRC it is a keyed shaft). Make sure you don't nick the new seal and make sure the PS pump shaft is clean ad burr free.

 

[rotohead]

One of the things to watch is fully tighten the joint between PS and the vacum pump. I've done a half dozen or so and it's easy to leave the two slightly separated, especially if you've left the PS pump in the engine compartment. I never run into problem's purging the PS lines if you decide to remove. In fact it's a good thing, purge it all. And installing a return line filter to the PS pump is even better idea if you what it to last longer. Almost all those vacum seals leak slightly but it can get to be a real mess.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I have done it both ways and to me, it is a whole lot easier to work on the unit on my workbench. Less time draped over the fender, my back appreciates that. I had no trouble getting the air out of the system at all, with the front wheels off the ground.



Good luck.



Sam

 

[KKohagen]

I just replaced the seal on my truck about 2 months ago or so. I left the PS pump in the truck with lines still connected.
Watch the video twice. If not sure watch it again.
I took me longer time to remove everything out of the way (battery, etc... )than it di to actualy make the seal replacement. I did not remove the intake horn but I did disconnect it from the intake manifold (horn). This allowed me to just move it slightly down and out of the way. Clean/clean/clean before you do it though.
I also took the videos advice and slightly scuffed up the vanes inside of the vacuum housing to remove any varnish. The vanes were black when I took them out one at a time and they were slightly brownish/yellow after removing the varnish. I had ~145K miles on the truck at the time. Absolutely no leaks since I installed it.
I have been working on slowly removing the caked on crud caused by the leak.
My truck was just sweatin' horsepower for a few years.

Good luck and just take your time. Well worth every penny for the kit if you have never done the fix before.

 

[MYeary]

Just got it out of the truck, took it out together. I left the bracket attached to the motor & the unit came out fine in the video it was off. did you all do it this way? hard to work all day & do this too but its gettin there. thanks for the extra info. Mark

 

[MYeary]

Here is a pic. it was leaking BAD had oil all way down the trans

 

[MYeary]

Got it all done, worst part was taking it off for the first time. seal kit was great, best thing to do is take your time, glad this is done. Mark