power steering pump

Post Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:30 pm

Decided to replace the power steering pump, after search found that there are few new ones to buy (not from bmw's can't afford those).
There are KMS, Marco, LUK, different prices between 110 and 180 quid.

Any recommendations on those brands? What would you buy?

Or PelicanParts sell rebuild OEM ones, similar price too.

Thank you.

Post Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:03 pm

Genuine second hand one would be my choice. What's wrong with the existing one?

Post Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:56 pm

Having bought a reconditioned power steering rack, that lasted for a year and then squirted its contents everywhere, I would suggest you buy a good second hand one. I spent about 5 or 6 hundred Australian $ on the recon and about a quarter of that on the second hand one. The second hand one is working fine and just needed a good flush. I recently got a second E30 for next to nothing(1 carton of beer and a bottle of red) because its power steering was cactus and replacing(including labour) was going to cost more than the value of the car. My son got two second hand racks for $100.00, fitted one himself, and now has a great little car. He gave me the other rack as a spare. kind child.

Post Fri Apr 10, 2015 3:17 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:Genuine second hand one would be my choice. What's wrong with the existing one?

It's probably not most inexpensive way to do things but there was a leak going on for some time and fluid was overheating too and last time I started the engine the whining noise appeared from the pump, so I decided to replace all line, pipes bottle and pump.

I would go for genuine second hand, but never know how long they will last. When fuel pump went I've got new not OEM from eurocarparts and after 6-7 years it is still there. Yes, the original was there for more than 15 years but any second hand that on sale now most probably worked for more than 20. Why not reconditioned?

Post Fri Apr 10, 2015 6:33 pm

d1mkaz wrote: Why not reconditioned?

Because they don't normally suffer significant wear. They can be killed by cavitation if the fluid level is too low in the bottle and sucking in air, and debris from a failed rack won't do them any good, but if you avoid those, a 25 year old second hand one will be fine.
Most 'leaks' from a steering pump are a weep from reused crush washers on the pressure port, or running down the feed hose from the common leak where the hose joins the bottle.

Post Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:01 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
d1mkaz wrote: Why not reconditioned?
Because they don't normally suffer significant wear. They can be killed by cavitation if the fluid level is too low in the bottle and sucking in air, and debris from a failed rack won't do them any good, but if you avoid those, a 25 year old second hand one will be fine.
Most 'leaks' from a steering pump are a weep from reused crush washers on the pressure port, or running down the feed hose from the common leak where the hose joins the bottle.

thank you for good info