Power Steering Pump Opinions

Jamescad04

NAXJA Forum User
So this past week my power steering pump failed on me. I'm the normal type jeep person that would rather upgrade then replace with stock. Im not looking to do the box just the pump for now. Oh yeah I've got a 96 pile of scrap with the 4.0 Running 33's. I don't want to go any larger then 33's and I don't plan on doing hydro assist in the future.

So far I have looked at:
the WJ pump read a lot on here about it both good and bad...

PSC pump looks good a bit pricy but I have also herd that i am supposed to run a power steering cooler with it, If that's the case I don't want to do all that for he power steering it seems unnecessary.

Howe Racing Enterprises pumps around the same price as the PSC pumps but there output performance seems less then that of the PSC

AGR I have found very little information on there website about there output or pricing and I haven't had the time to call them.

Lee Manufacturing Company same story as AGR.

What do you guys think are you any of you running any of these? If so whats your opinion.

Im also looking to go with a remote reservoir because One I don't like how the return line for the fluid is right next to the supply for the pump so your just pumping the same hot fluid back into the pump that just came out, Two the stock res is plastic and breaks too easily.
 
Hmmm, I don't have any experience with any of those companies...

I recently had issues with a pump that went bad. Turns out the pump went bad because the box I had just installed was starving it. I replaced mine with a remaned pump from the parts store. I figure it's easy enough to change out and I've always had good luck with the A1 Cardone remaned stuff. (Except for that one steering gear box)

You can go check out the price on the PSC 4cylinder TJ power steering pump. It origianlly came with a remote res. You can order the pump and easily plumb it to a shiney PSC remote res. For about 200 bucks. :)
 
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that.

Like he said, the one I have (and need to install) was only like 25 bucks. and I got a BIG one. You can get a 5x10 for cheap and it takes 10 minutes to install.
 
I,m running a stock pump with a small pulley,and shorter belt....With a cooler off of a wrecked ford Exploder, Cooler fit in space where air box was only had to drill 1 hole to mount and run a longer hose from cooler to pump return.
 
i running a stock one..the hose busted but other than that its holding up fine
 
If you aren't going to upgrade to hydro assist, then I wouldn't suggest anything other than a stock pump. The only thing I would suggest to you is to add a cooler like others have mentioned. That will help prevent steering fade and pump cavitation, which in turn will make the pump run cooler and live longer!
 
I recently had issues with a pump that went bad. Turns out the pump went bad because the box I had just installed was starving it.

The engineer in me would like to know how it was doing that.
 
I'm in the same boat. I replaced my box for one with a better ratio. My pump started whining so I replaced the pump. I replaced the pump with a WJ pump. It worked fine for about a week before it too started whining too. There's also this *whooshing* sound while actually turning the wheel. That was with both the old pump and the new one. I think I just need to prioritize getting a rebuild kit and rebuilding the box :dunno:
 
Whine is normally caused by air bubbles in the fluid, ie. caviation. If you are running the WJ pump you really need to use the large fitting on the bottom and not the one on the side for the return. I ran and still have a pump set up for an external reservoir. The reservoir was causing bubbles and I never found one I could afford that didn't..
 
There's no bubbles in the reservoir though, not to mention I've "bled" it about a hundred times. I might change my return fitting to the bottom though and see if that changes anything.

Since I'm going to rebuild it anyways, I wonder if I should just put in some stop leak and see if that makes a difference. What do you think?
 
There's no bubbles in the reservoir though, not to mention I've "bled" it about a hundred times. I might change my return fitting to the bottom though and see if that changes anything.

Since I'm going to rebuild it anyways, I wonder if I should just put in some stop leak and see if that makes a difference. What do you think?
If you put stop leak in the system, you will be calling me for a new steering gear. :gee: Sooooooo Yes stop leak is fine.
 
If you aren't going to upgrade to hydro assist, then I wouldn't suggest anything other than a stock pump. The only thing I would suggest to you is to add a cooler like others have mentioned. That will help prevent steering fade and pump cavitation, which in turn will make the pump run cooler and live longer!

Listen to this. If you are runnign 33's and no intentions of power assist then KISS! Stay with a stock pump that you can get anywhere for less then $50.

The engineer in me would like to know how it was doing that.

I would like to know what the hell those little balls in there for! And how do I find someone in my podunck area that really knows how to rebuild these damn things!!!????
 
i just remembered.. I have CROK's steering pump stiffener and i have steering brace as well too.. For the bigger tires I always heard its good to have both of those.
just an idea to think about
 
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