pump is toast (was: intermittent stalling)

[Ron Mruss <rmruss@pangea.ca>]

Sadly, I can now confirm that, as Mike Arman stated in his post recently, the volcano syndrome is indeed a sign of a pump about to fail.  I started up the car today, backed out of the driveway, and thought, "hmmm the brakes seem soft today".  Drove 10 metres down the street, applied the brakes just to check, NO power assist, and steering was very heavy.  Turned around, went back home, checked fluids, everything OK.  I have therefore concluded my pump is bad and needs a rebuild.  If I'm wrong, please tell me, but otherwise, next week will see the installation of a rebuilt rack from Jorgen and the rebuilding of the pump.  Speaking of which, the dealer wants aprox. $50 CDN for the pump rebuild kit.  Is this reasonable?  Anyone else have a better (read:  cheaper) Canadian source for the kit and/or hydraulic fluid, (as the dealer wants $31 CDN for a litter of fluid)?

Additionally, I will have a Bentley before I attempt this, but is this the sort of thing I can do without having attempted anything beyond a thermostat change in a Rabbit in the past?  I would much rather take the time to do this than pay a mechanic, but don't want to make the problem worse.  Thoughts?

TIA

Jeff Mruss
'84 5KS