Blew the Reservoir on NEW Power Steering Pump!

[Slimer]

UNCLE!!



What did I do?? I originally broke the little plastic nipple on the back of my power steering pump reservoir when I changed the radiator. Instead of replacing the pump I just replaced the reservoir.


Of course it leaked and kept leaking no matter how I tried to seal it up. I took the pump off the reservoir off three times.


So I broke down and went to NAPA for a new pump with reservoir already installed. I put it on, flushed the system and first blew the low pressure return line. I replaced it and then blew a hole out the side of the reservoir.


What did I forget to do or did I get a bad pump? Any suggestions?


Here is how I bled the system.
Tighten the fittings
Wheels off the ground
Engine running
Turn the steering wheel from stop to stop (gently at the stops) 20 times
Engine off
Look into the reservoir for bubbles
Let the fluid settle down until there is no bubbles
Repeat the above
Wheels down
Turn the steering wheel stop to stop a few times
Check the fluid for excessive bubbles

 

[old_man]

Logic would dictate that pretty much the only way to blow out the reservoir is to build pressure in the reservoir. The cap should have a vent in it to prevent pressure buildup. Sounds like you have a bad cap.

 

[Slimer]

Turned out to be a bad pump. I took the reservoir off and hooked to my air compressor electric motor and ran hydraulic fluid through it. The low pressure side or the return side had over 250 psi while the high pressure side only had 36 psi. Maybe they rebuilt it backwards, I don't know. I exchanged it and the new works fine. Strange.

 

[trippled]

Sounds like the average reman! Glad you got it fixed

 

[Vgonman]

I had a similar issue to your original problem. I also broke the input nipple off the reservoir and got a non-Mopar replacement reservoir. It leaked like a sieve where it connects to the pump. Turns out the o-ring that was supposed to seal it... wasn't. I ended up getting a batch of o-rings that ended up doing the job just fine.

FYI, this is what I ended up getting... M3x14 Viton O-Ring, 75A Shore Durometer, Round, Black, 14 mm ID, 20 mm OD, 3 mm Width.

If you want, I can send you one (I had to get a pack of 10). PM me if you want one. That way you have a spare reservoir.

 

[Hypoid]

FYI, this is what I ended up getting... M3x14 Viton O-Ring, 75A Shore Durometer, Round, Black, 14 mm ID, 20 mm OD, 3 mm Width.

If you want, I can send you one (I had to get a pack of 10). PM me if you want one. That way you have a spare reservoir.

Where did you find these, part number?

 

[Vgonman]

Here's the link to what I got...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RUSZ9G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But, like I told Slimer, I had to buy a 10 pack to get the 1 I needed. I still have at least 8 left. If you'd like one too, shoot me a PM with your address and I'll send one your way.

 

[Slimer]

I had a similar issue to your original problem. I also broke the input nipple off the reservoir and got a non-Mopar replacement reservoir. It leaked like a sieve where it connects to the pump. Turns out the o-ring that was supposed to seal it... wasn't. I ended up getting a batch of o-rings that ended up doing the job just fine.

FYI, this is what I ended up getting... M3x14 Viton O-Ring, 75A Shore Durometer, Round, Black, 14 mm ID, 20 mm OD, 3 mm Width.

If you want, I can send you one (I had to get a pack of 10). PM me if you want one. That way you have a spare reservoir.

Vgonman,
Thank you for the kind offer. It stopped leaking when I replaced the entire pump.

Ryan