Rack or Pump?

[FordMan77]

Well it seems my 00 GT has decided to take a crap in the steering department today. Almost made me drive into a curb After getting into the parking lot I checked the PS fluid and it was empty. Refilled it and drove it straight home (about 35 miles). Steering was super tight all the way home turning either direction. I had to pull on the wheel with both hands just to force it to turn left into the driveway. There was no whine when doing this as there is when its just low on fluid.

Popped the hood and somehow there is PS fluid getting out and actually landing on the rear manifold, as evidence by the smell/smoke. Now I replaced the high side line when I had the engine out and it appears dry on both ends, and re-used the pump and return line as they did not appear to be leaking. I had noticed a bit of fluid on one of the bellows from the rack, but it has been a slow leak at best. Usually only needed to top it off once a week or so, and I do a LOT of driving in the week (100 mi./day just to and from work).

Is my rack just finally FUBARED, or is the pump shot? And no I haven't jacked it up and taken a closer look yet, just looking for opinions. I knew I should have replaced the rack while the motor was out, but alas funds didn't allow it at the time.

Jay

[OH4CompG]

Gotta find the leak first. If it's on the pressure line then there's your problem.

[FordMan77]

After a closer look, the pressure line is good, as is the return. The resivoir is a bit wet but that's just from me refilling it in a hurry.

The bellows are wet on both sides and I noticed that on the drivers side bottom, there appears to be an adjustment nut (presumeably for rack adjustment at assembly) that has the cap missing, and it too is covered in fluid. The entire underside on the drivers side is covered in fluid, and with no lines leaking and it being the furtheset point from the pump I think the rack is just done. Even with the car on the jack I don't get a smooth turn. After 240K on the stock unit I guess I can believe that. Now comes the fun part of funding the replacement (GM sure is proud of "Magnasteer", lol..) and fighting the old one out.

[Vik]

Well it seems my 00 GT has decided to take a crap in the steering department today. Almost made me drive into a curb After getting into the parking lot I checked the PS fluid and it was empty. Refilled it and drove it straight home (about 35 miles). Steering was super tight all the way home turning either direction. I had to pull on the wheel with both hands just to force it to turn left into the driveway. There was no whine when doing this as there is when its just low on fluid.

Popped the hood and somehow there is PS fluid getting out and actually landing on the rear manifold, as evidence by the smell/smoke. Now I replaced the high side line when I had the engine out and it appears dry on both ends, and re-used the pump and return line as they did not appear to be leaking. I had noticed a bit of fluid on one of the bellows from the rack, but it has been a slow leak at best. Usually only needed to top it off once a week or so, and I do a LOT of driving in the week (100 mi./day just to and from work).

Is my rack just finally FUBARED, or is the pump shot? And no I haven't jacked it up and taken a closer look yet, just looking for opinions. I knew I should have replaced the rack while the motor was out, but alas funds didn't allow it at the time.

Jay

The same exact thing happened to my gp. I put power stering and it was good for a bit(like 20 mintues) then It went back to being hard as crap to turn.. I went under the car and saw a leak.. I ended up replacing the rack and pinion and wah la!!! didnt have a arm work out in my car after that lol It was back to new and working perfect..

[FordMan77]

I hear you on the arm workout, lol... When it went I was in mid-turn of an intersection and all of the sudden BAM! No PS! It was like it almost locked. I actually pulled my shoulder muscling it around the turn as to avoid parking it over the curb or getting T-boned in the intersection. Needless to say I wasn't very happy. Had I not had my 2 year old with me it wouldn't have been so scary.

[Vik]

Haha yea its a real drag... I drove my car like that for about a week and a half.. And i hated when i had to park or make a sharp turn cause i had to do a whole bunch of reversing and what not just to make sure i didnt hit the cars around me.. Phewww.. Totally glad thats over!!!