2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission power steering pump leak

[dsherman]

My power steering pump has a slow leak between the pump and the vacuum pump. the steering pump has been replaced by the dealer at about 800 miles. Then it developed another leak and was fixed again. To make a long story short it's been in 3 other times for a slow leak and they are telling me this is normal seepage, that they all have seegage. My seepage runs from the power steering pump down some wires to some of the frame and then drips onto my differential cover. I think this is a bit more than seepage. I looked under several trucks and none of them leak although they do have some moisture between the pump and the vacuum pump. My truck only has 5000 miles on it. Has anyone else had this similar problem and a fix for it?

 

[jrollins]

i am not aware of any seepage that should occur from either the vacuum pump or the PS pump, The dealer replaced my perfectly good vacuum pump around 75k because the breather bottle had sprayed some Oliy film on the bottom of the pump and the of course the dealer saw this and decided it was in need of replacement (truck was in for a oil pan gasket leak that was never fixed ). I have 126K on the clock now and have never had any "seepage" from either unit.

 

[dsherman]

Thanks for the fast reply. Forgot to mention that my vent tube and bottle was relocated to the back of the engine. The bottle is located just behind the quad cab. The dealer tried to blame it on the vent tube and bottle. Then I told them that it can't be that because you relocated it to the rear of the engine, behind the quad cab. He had confused look on his face looked at the front of motor and saw that it wasn't there and still told me it was normal seepage. Go figure!

 

[Bill Lins]

Sounds like the seal on the vacuum pump shaft has failed. Do a search for CPFF to get a replacement.

 

[dremelts]

dsherman,



I agree with Bill Lins that it may very well be the seal between the ps pump and the vac pump. You really need to determine whether it is ps fluid or engine oil that is seeping. If it really is ps fluid then it has to be the pump, but if it's engine oil then it could be the seal.

 

[Gifford]

oil or ps fluid?

How can you identify whether the leak is oil or ps fluid??? Mine leaks pretty good (like all of'em I suppose), but it just looks like a gooey black mess. .

 

[dremelts]

Re: oil or ps fluid?

Originally posted by Gifford

How can you identify whether the leak is oil or ps fluid??? Mine leaks pretty good (like all of'em I suppose), but it just looks like a gooey black mess. .

It may be difficult to tell the difference - you will have to use your senses: look, feel, smell (maybe taste, but I wouldn't recommend that). You may have to clean off the bottom of the pwr streering/vac. pump so that you can get some fresh seepage then compare it with what is on the engine oil dipstick and the power steering dipstick.



If the seepage is black and gooey it is probably engine oil - power steering fluid is either clear or reddish and it is much "thinner" than engine oil.



Regards,

Dave

 

[dsherman]

Dave,

I don't understand about the engine oil between the ps pump and the vacuum pump. Is the engine oil going thru the vaccuum pump? So if the vacuum pump seal is leaking is it leaking engine oil? Because it looks more like motor oil more than ps fluid but it's really hard to tell. All I know is that it's leaking between the power steering punp and the vacuum pump. So if this is true is this engine oil?



Thank You,

David

 

[Gifford]

vacpump

yes, I believe the vacuum pump is lubricated with engine oil- the seal appears to be between the vac pump and the PS pump (they share a common driveshaft I guess)

 

[jrollins]

Re: vacpump

Originally posted by Gifford

yes, I believe the vacuum pump is lubricated with engine oil- the seal appears to be between the vac pump and the PS pump (they share a common driveshaft I guess)

Yes, that is correct the vacuum pump is lubed with engine oil and the shaft on both units connect together to form one shaft down the middle.

 

[dsherman]

Thank you all for the help!!!!

David