Dennis,

My pumps still function. BUT - they whine like crazy, it's loud, and
it's far worse when turning under a load such as when trying to parallel
park or when at or near the limits of turning of the steering wheel.

I realize that even with a new pump there is always some slight whining
when the steering wheel turn limits are reached. I have a new PS unit
installed, freshly flushed and filled - and my pump still whines like
crazy. In fact, all three used pumps that I have put on subsequently
have protested loudly.

Like alternators, these pumps see a lot of work, and because they are
raight at $300 a pop, and I have three vans, I'm real interested in
finding a simpler, cheaper solution to the pump issue. Plunking down
$900 for three pumps is not my idea of fun. And right now all three vans
have pumps that whine like crazy.

John. Rodgers

On 8/22/2010 11:28 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Why do you think these pumps are bad? The part that usually wears is really
> the housing, (side play) and fixing this take machine work. They also
> usually last almost forever. I have only replaced two of these and they were
> used on a number of VW and Audi products. Both died from being run dry.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> John Rodgers
> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 3:13 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Power Steering Pumps - Again!
>
>    Since I now have three Vanagons to maintian, and all three have bad
> pumps, I am facing a $900 bill for PS pump replacement, so needless to
> say, I have been studying the pump problem intently. Bentley has some
> really good illustrations of the construction of these pumps, and I see
> absolutely no reason one cannot rebuild them in one's own garage. The
> problem is the availability of parts.
>
> These pumps are simple. A few gaskets and seals, a spring loaded
> pressure relief valve, a stator, a rotor, and some vanes to go in the
> rotor.
>
> The parts that wear are the vanes - which wear against the stator, and
> the rotor, where the vanes wear in their respective slots on the rotor.
> Those three parts - stator, rotor, vanes - are really easy to replace.
> So, what is the deal with getting those parts. All of our regular list
> vendors carry the seal kit, ie, gaskets, o-rings, etc, but I have yet to
> see one carry the stator, rotor, and vanes. So why not? As common as
> these parts are on Vanagons, surely they are available somewhere to the
> public at large. Why would/should these parts be the exclusive purvue of
> automotive component/appliance re-builders.
>
> I hope to turn this situation around, and I'm on the trail. Any input
> anyone has would be appreciated. I would like to add this as a  success
> story to the archives.
>
> Homey's have rebuilt/repaired AFM's, ECU's, Auto Trannies, PS racks, to
> name a few - all in their home garages. So why not PS pumps??
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Thanks for putting up with a semi-rant!
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>