Possible Steering Pump Rebuild

[Steveindar]

Hi All,

Before I drop the hammer on the parts, what actually goes wrong on the steering pump for it to fail. I see the repair kit is basically just seals. Is that enough to get the pump doing it's job again?

Cheers

Steve

 

[felix2566]

What are the symptoms of your situation?

 

[Steveindar]

What are the symptoms of your situation?

Stiff steering. I've done a fluid flush but no improvement

 

[felix2566]

Have you checked the other components in the system, no joints binding up, or is it the steering box.
Jack it up so the wheels are off the ground. Make it easier to isolate the issue. Unless you have done all this already?
Is the pump making any abnormal noises?

 

[Steveindar]

Had the wheels off the ground when we were bleeding the system. Nothing binding or noisier than usual. No screeching from the pump lock to lock.

 

[felix2566]

Is it worth disconnecting the drag link, or what ever it's called, to isolate the pump and steering box from the rest of the system. Help narrow down where the issue is?
Sorry, not trying to teach you to suck eggs...

 

[frank rabbets]

I would jack front wheels off ground engine OFF. You should be able to push/pull the wheels from lock to lock even with faulty pump. If not steering itself might be stiff.

 

[StarCruiser]

There’s a thread on here (if not more than one) with details about rebuild. There’s a tiny tea strainer type filter on one of the parts that controls the pressure. If this unloader is letting by, it overheats the fluid (did it smell burnt when you changed it?) and makes steering less smooth. There’s very little to the pump and usually a darn good clean, inspection and re-seal does the job. The vanes generally wear in rather than wear out but if contamination has got in there may be abnormal wear.

 

[larryseaman]

I have a 90 series so it might not be the same for an 80 but have you checked the reservoir tank filter? On the 90 you can remove the reservoir tank, drain it and see the filter at the bottom. You can flush the tank & filter by spraying a can of carb cleaner through it which clears the gunk build up that blocks the steering fluid. This is a maintenance thing which often gets overlooked but should be done when doing a full fluid flush.

 

[Steveindar]

I have a 90 series so it might not be the same for an 80 but have you checked the reservoir tank filter? On the 90 you can remove the reservoir tank, drain it and see the filter at the bottom. You can flush the tank & filter by spraying a can of carb cleaner through it which clears the gunk build up that blocks the steering fluid. This is a maintenance thing which often gets overlooked but should be done when doing a full fluid flush.

Something to look at. Thx

 

[Steveindar]

There’s a thread on here (if not more than one) with details about rebuild. There’s a tiny tea strainer type filter on one of the parts that controls the pressure. If this unloader is letting by, it overheats the fluid (did it smell burnt when you changed it?) and makes steering less smooth. There’s very little to the pump and usually a darn good clean, inspection and re-seal does the job. The vanes generally wear in rather than wear out but if contamination has got in there may be abnormal wear.

Hmmm, another filter to look at. Don't remember smelling any burnt fluid. Looking at the rebuild threads it what made me ask the original question. There just didn't seem to be something that could drastically fail.

 

[Steveindar]

I would jack front wheels off ground engine OFF. You should be able to push/pull the wheels from lock to lock even with faulty pump. If not steering itself might be stiff.

I redid the cv's recently and I'm sure there was no stiffness anywhere in the steering.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Does it have progressive assistance, with the electric solenoid? If so, that's something else that could be faulty and make the steering heavy.

 

[Steveindar]

Does it have progressive assistance, with the electric solenoid? If so, that's something else that could be faulty and make the steering heavy.

No idea, I'll have to check that. How does it work?

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Reduces assistance the faster you go. Never done diagnostics on that but as it affects steering effort must be worth checking if you have it.

 

[frank rabbets]

Is it just a self adjusting valve then?

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

I think so Frank, based on the signal it receives from the speed sensor. I've never worked on or investigated one, that's just what I remember reading.

 

[Sarmajornz]

The pump rebuild is reasonably easy. The pump shaft can develop wear grooves where the seals run, so new shaft is a good idea.
I rebuilt mine a few years ago because it was leaking.

 

[Steveindar]

If the pump is ok then i assume the next thing to check is the steering box?

 

[Mblinko]

I rebuilt my pump a while ago, details here
Post in thread 'Baselining My 80 / Overland Build'
https://www.landcruiserclub.net/com...ning-my-80-overland-build.141584/post-1365969