Power steering fluid leaking

TahoeMan · February 4, 2002

Detecting some leakage, instead of expensive replacement does anyone have any experience with products claiming to stop leaks? Do they work? What are the pros and cons if any?

Thanks!

I've got at 96 Tahoe (how would you guess), with the 5.7 Vortec, have a K&N (I think it is called series 1...the older model) everything else stock. Have a TBI spacer but I'm debating putting it on. 105K, but everything else tight.

95Yukon · February 4, 2002

It wouldn't hurt to try it, but most likely it won't help. There's a high pressure line and a low pressure line coming to and from the pump. The high pressure line is a hard metal line with fittings at the ends. The low (return) side is usually rubber hose with compression fittings and fittings where it all hooks up. Try to dry it all off and find where the leak originates. Carefully steam clean the area at a coin car wash (wouldn't hurt to bring small baggies and some elastic bands to cover the top so no water can get in the cap anywhere) or use some engine degreaser to clean it all up, rinse and dry it, then run it and keep an eye on it after a few miles. You may have a bad or loose fitting or sometimes the compression fittings will leak where the rubber meets the metal coupling.

If it is the pump shaft itself, you probably need a new pump, otherwise if you can find a bad line, you may be able to get by with just changing the hose out or tightening a fitting.

01z71 · February 24, 2002

I have never been a fan of the stop leak or miracle products. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it though if it's already shot. Let us know how it works out.

TahoeMan · March 5, 2002

Well, I took 95Yukon's advice and cleaned up the pump, fittings and hoses and it appears as though it's leaking in and/or around the shaft. Filled up the reservoir several times in the past couple weeks only to have it most all leak out.

So, I guess it's time for a new pump. What am I looking at here?

TIA

BTW - the leak stopper product I used was incorporated in the fluid and didn't work...must've been too far gone.

95Yukon · March 5, 2002

Is this going to be a do it yourself job or shop repair? I would think the pump will be right around $100 plus about an hour labor charge. If a dealer is charging actual hours as opposed to book labor hours, price could be a lot different.

If you do it yourself, I think you will need to have a special tool to pull the pulley off to switch it to the new pump for the swap.