2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering pump siezed and broke vacuum pump

[jdross440]

We were driving in town and heard a big bang. Lost steering and brakes. Got out and looked and some liquid was running out. Thought it was power steering fluid. Limped the truck home. Checked the fluid level in pump and it was full. Discovered it was motor oil coming out of the two pump joint location. Unbolted pump and before I got the last nut off the pump moved back. This is when I discovered the fender side mount on the vacuum pump was broken. When I pulled the steering pump out I heard something fall. I looked on the driveway and it was the coupling in 2 pieces. The pump had siezed and spun the coupling and it broke and broke the mount off the vacuum pump. I have never heard of this before. Steering pump was under warranty but they wouldn't pay for vacuum pump. The parts house knocked off extra 25% on vacuum pump.

 

[JR]

That sir, requires some serious torque to start snapping parts like that.

 

[BigPapa]

Never heard of that before, either.

You say the pump was under warranty. Was it recently replaced?

 

[jdross440]

Had about 12K miles on it. Replaced August 2012 when the pressure regulator stuck and overpressured the system ruining the hydroboost. When the regulator unstuck it was driven into it's cavity so tight you couldn't get it out.

 

[NIsaacs]

Power steering systems need a magnet. Without one you can never clean the system when a failure occures. The residual contaminates will always cause the system to re-fail. About all you can do is flush the system well and hope for the best.



Nick

 

[RDHamill]

I can't seem to picture how that happened. The vac pump is driven off of the back of the PS pump. When the PS pump sezied, what would cause the vac pump to continue to rotate?
I had the seals in the Vac pump fail in my 2001. here's a good source for parts. http://www.fixinrams.com/ good luck

 

[NIsaacs]

I can't seem to picture how that happened. The vac pump is driven off of the back of the PS pump. When the PS pump sezied, what would cause the vac pump to continue to rotate?

RD, you have this backwards, the vacuum pump drives off the engine and the powersteering pump drives off of it.



Nick

 

[jdross440]

The piece that broke off appears to have had a short crack ( 3/4") and probably the instant shock and twist from the pump locking probalby caused the cracked to completely fail. It's hard to find quality rebuilt parts anymore since the rebuilders are rebuilding in Mexico and China. We had a rebuilder in Arkansas that did quality work, however the competition from Mexico and China caused them to close. Hopefully rebuilders will soon see that it's causing them money in the long run due to warranty claims they will move back like many other companies have started doing.

 

[jdross440]

I forgot to transfer the plug for the hole above the return line when I installed the pump. Of course it is now seeping fluid. By the time I discovered it, the parts house had already sent my old pump off. Does anyone know what size and thread this plug is or a part number for it? It is close to 1/8" pipe but appears to be a straight fine thread.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Had about 12K miles on it. Replaced August 2012 when the pressure regulator stuck and overpressured the system ruining the hydroboost. When the regulator unstuck it was driven into it's cavity so tight you couldn't get it out.

That would have required a call to corporate. Their part failed, which caused damage to my engine. You probably needed the truck, but I would have been burning up the phone lines and ears of the guys up the food chain. They CAN if they WILL compensate you for your time if a part fails prematurely, and if it causes damage like that, they SHOULD take care of the problem. Cheap parts abound out there, and I get them regularly. Unfortunately, no one listens to me on the corporate level, they just care about the bottom dollar. I'd wager you were pretty nice about it..... That's unfortunate. You shouldn't have had to pay for their cheap half-arse rebuild.

I forgot to transfer the plug for the hole above the return line when I installed the pump. Of course it is now seeping fluid. By the time I discovered it, the parts house had already sent my old pump off. Does anyone know what size and thread this plug is or a part number for it? It is close to 1/8" pipe but appears to be a straight fine thread.

If it's a stock pump from 2000, it's probably 10Mx1. 5. Older pumps will most likely be 3/8" fine thread (3/8"x24tpi). All will have an Oring or square ring under them to seal the reservoir from the housing.