[s-cars] Power steering pump replacement

[Tom Green]

Tom,

There is a nice write-up in the UrS car forum on Quattroworld.com.   
Check the FAQ
listing at the top of the page.

If you clean the pump and area with a solvent, you may pinpoint the  
source without
removing anything.  However, most leaks there are shaft or center  
gasket leaks.
You can try tightening the bolts holding the halves together if the  
leak is there, but
a shaft leak means a rebuild.  That can be done with just a kit of  
seals if the pump is
performing ok, provided you can take the pump apart and put it back  
together as it was.
If the shaft leaks removing the shaft to replace the seal is a little  
more work.

Chris' recommendation for a rebuild shop does not sound like a bad deal.

Tom '95 S6
          '95.5 S6 avant
Knoxville, TN


On Friday August 12, 2011, at 1:01 PM,  Tom Winter <tom at tomwintermedia.com 
 >  wrote:

> Guys + Gals - I really haven't had much reason to post on the list,  
> as the
> "grim sleeper" has been charging right along, with no problems  
> whatsoever.
>
> However, I've discovered a leak which appears to be coming from the  
> bottom
> of the power steering pump. I can't get an exact location, but from  
> that
> area, maybe it's a hose? The leak is not bad - yet - but I'm  
> obviously going
> to have to address it, the sooner the better.
>
> How simple is it to replace the pump? Any particular issues or  
> problems that
> I should worry about before I delve in? Special tools or additional  
> "while
> you're in there" work (aside from the serpentine belt, of course)?  
> Best
> parts supplier to get one from (I've seen them as high as $400 and  
> as low as
> $220)?
>
> And from the list's experience, might it be something else and not  
> the pump
> at all? I'll have to remove the pump to make a final assesment, but  
> is there
> a known "common problem" with anything under the pump that leaks?
>
>> From looking at the car, addressing this issue seems pretty basic,  
>> but I'd
> rather not leave much to chance.
>
> Thanks in advance for your insights.
>
> Tom '95 S6 Avant