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Steering Pump Installation Made Easy

There can only be two reasons why you're reading this page: first, you are probably looking to purchase a replacement steering pump when you stumbled upon this article; second, you are really looking for a steering pump installation guide to help you conquer your current weekend project. Whatever the reasons you have, this article will help you solve that regular upper-body workout you are having when maneuvering your vehicle. Read on and find out how we can help you.

Required skill level: Intermediate

Needed tools and materials

  • Steering fluid
  • Steering Pulley puller set
  • Socket set
  • Open-end wrench set
  • Leverage pipe or extension bar
  • Drain pan
  • Wheel-bearing grease

    • Draining the steering system

    Drain the old steering system to give the rack some space for fresh fluid when the new pump is installed. This can easily be done by flushing and filling the system with approximately two quarts of steering fluid.

    Under the hood

    Disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent any accidents when removing other parts under the hood. Remove the steering belt, steering pressure, and fluid level sensor as well. After that, remove the steering pulley using the puller set. Unbolt the pump to the vehicle afterwards.

    Placing the new unit

    Removing the old pump should not be a problem anymore, since after doing the steps above, the steering pump should already be loosely cradled to its frame and brackets. Remove the unit and install the new one by inserting it into the bracket and attaching it to the adjacent bolts. You should also attach the pressure hose onto the pump at this point. Do not, however, attach the return hose before flushing the steering pump of its machining grease and oil.

    Final touches

    The tricky part of this is not the installation process of the steering pulley, but its alignment. The pulley can be attached the same manner as how you put it out. Aligning it, however, will require you to use a block of wood as an alignment tool. The far end of the tool should rest on the crankshaft pull, while the other end should be on the steering pulley. Adjust the position of the pulley until it is well aligned with the crankshaft.

    Flush the new pump with a quart of fluid; then, attach the return hose onto the pump. Fill the reservoir before you turn on your engine to test.

    Steering Pump Articles

    • 11 January 2013

      A1 Cardone vs. Crown: Which Steering Pump Performs Best?

      A steering pump provides the hydraulic power that translates the steering motion of the steering wheel as a definite action that moves your car to left or right. This pump is driven by the engine using an assembly of a belt, a pulley, and an assortment of retractable vanes inside an oval chamber. A steering pump undergoes much pressure every time it forces the hydraulic fluid into the outlet of the return line, therefore, it is important for a replacement steering pump to be able to handle this amount of stress for a stretch of time. We will look into two brands, A1 Cardone and Crown, that offers an array of steering pumps that claim to be a cut above the rest.

      Condition

      With an A1 Cardone unit, you can choose from either a new unit or a remanufactured one. The advantage of a new unit is that you can assure that no harmful chemicals have ever touched the unit, and is therefore, safe for use with any engine-and with any kind of hydraulic fluid that suits your needs best. A remanufactured steering pump, however, is cheaper, and is tested to perform under specific circumstances that may be similar to yours. To what extent has the remanufacturing process covered previous damages will remain a mystery.

      A Crown steering pump only comes with a newly manufactured unit, so you can always be certain that you are the first-time user of your purchase. This luxury, however, comes for a price.

      Price and warranty

      To be fully upfront, A1 Cardone is cheaper than Crown, even if we use the new A1 Cardone unit against the standard brand new Crown product as a basis of comparison. The price difference costs a bit more than a hundred bucks. An A1 Cardone steering pump also comes with a lifetime limited warranty pledge, while a Crown product only pledges a 12-month or a 12,000-mile warranty seal.

      At this point, A1 Cardone seems to be the better choice, since a Crown steering pump is somehow impractical-especially if your main concern is to replace the unit economically. Surely, an A1 Cardone steering pump is a quality product in its own right, because if it isn't, why boast a lifetime warranty pledge at all?

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