Power steering problems

[G-reg]

My power steering pump is making some bad bearing noises, and boosting sporadically. Can the PS fluid freeze at around -30F ? If I just have a leak and blew my fluid out, how bad is it to keep driving on it. I know it is kind of dangerous as far as maneuverability. Does the PS pump use the fluid for cooling, and if it is run lacking fluid will it seize? I'm going to poke around a bit as it is "warmer" today. How much does a PS pump run? What would it come with if I ordered it from a parts store, just the pump or with a pulley and hose? Would there be any advantage to procuring a pump from a different engine, like smaller pulley or less boost.

[entirelyturbo]

Did you go so far as to check to see how much fluid was in it? Chances are it's just low and a quart of good ole Dexron III ATF will help out a lot.

[Legacy777]

mine made noises.......it was toast.....got a used pump from jason. I'd suggest goin that route, or just get a reman'd one.

I suppose if you were ambitious you could try and take it apart to fix the bearings.....but not sure it's worth the hassle.

[G-reg]

It was low on fluid, but I can't see any leaks out of the pump or the lines. I hope I'm blind and just didn't see it, because if it is not leaking from the pump or the lines it's down at the rack or in the rack. I had a 95 2.2 put in when I nuked the original and the pressure line of the PS pump was a bit loose. Ifound it was loose because I was leaving a smoke screen one day, it hosed the exhaust pretty well. But that was a while ago. I haven't been putting out any smoke. So the leak is probably down low. I recently had my H20 pump replaced, is there any reason they would have had to remove the PS pump? I did notice the bearings were making a lot of noise though. Will they make a lot of noise before they really go, like say a wheel bearing, or is any noise from it the sign of sudden death.

[THAWA]

nigel rebuilt his pump as you can see here