Uh oh - Power steering pump whining + fluid leaking everywhere

[Frisbeeguy]

Oh snap... I knew when everything slipped together so well I'd screw something up!
Just finished up my first ever clutch replacement. At the same time removed both motor mounts & reinforced 'em. She is shifting beautifully.
The power stering pump is whining worse then my mother in law riding in the backseat. There is leakage at the cooler and then when turning the wheel w/ the engine off the fluid overflowed out of the reservoir.

I also noticed that the whole engine was moving / shiftingwhen turning the wheel while engine running. O.K. - It's not shifting around like I first thought... It looks tight. This is after changing the PS pump.

oops...

Any ideas on what to look for when I have a chance to get it back on the stands & reattach the engine support? (I'm guessing I must have pinched a line somewhere but maybe one of y'all have experienced something similar before?)

 

[rubydist]

the engine moving while turning the wheel is very bad and needs to be addressed first - check the motor mounts and the subframe bushings to make sure all are connected properly and tightened properly.

the ps fluid leak could be as simple as a clamp that was not tightened properly.

I'd spend 20 minutes looking over all the fasteners to make sure all are tight.

 

[Phoenix]

Smells like a rear busted subframe bushing.

 

[93rev2sev]

If you just did your clutch and did not use new subframe bushings, that might be the problem. Best way to tell is to have someone else turning the wheel while you poke your head under the front of the car and watch the subframe.

 

[Frisbeeguy]

Darn - didn't have a chance to get to my workshop today - probably can't get a look until Sun. Thanks for the suggestions.
The stock subframe bushings looked fine. I'm sure I tightened everything up properly. Never undid the power steering. I'm thinking I somehow pinched a line that I haven't found.
Looks like I'll have to take my SHO mechanics shirt off until it's running properly.

 

[Frisbeeguy]

O.K. - spent an hour looking and can't find anything wrong. Everything is tight and the power steering lines are not pinched or binding.
It's driving fine (drove about 60 miles today, mostly highway) but the PS pump is really whining. Fluid level is good an there is no real leak... it just leaked out of the reservoir cap when I forced the wheel back & forth with the engine off. (the cap may not have been on all the way?)
As far as the engine shifting... it's only moving a bit side to side when turning the wheel. I looked at another '89 today and his was doing the same thing. I'm thinking it's O.K. and I'll have to bite the bullet and replace the pump.

 

[Phoenix]

Yup , and if you need a pump , PM me I got a couple for sale.

 

[93rev2sev]

Try loosening the power steering belt tensioner pulley nut just slightly. Several times when I thought I had a bad power steering pump, I found an overly tight pulley nut. I'd loosen it just a tiny bit and the noise would go away immediately.

 

[Frisbeeguy]

Oh snap... replaced the pump yesterday w/ a used one. (Tough little sucker to get to) Removing the motor mount was a bit harder because of the recent reinforcement using grade 8 bolts. Put it all together and no change. The "new" old pump whines and sounds exactly like the original. darn.
Is there any way that something has pinched on the steering rack? It seemed very straightforward when I hung it up w/ wires when removing the sub-frame and then re-bolted it back on during SF re-install.
I also removed the cooler to check for any clogging - looks O.K.

Only had to replace about a quart of PS fluid after replacing the pump.

Anybody know where I can borrow the PS oil - flow / pressure tester?

 

[Phoenix]

Its not PS fluid that goes in there.

 

[91PDXmocha]

use ATF.

 

[AREA 91]

Check the rack bolts, sub frame bolts, and upper strut mounts. Side to side movement is a bad thing.

 

[Frisbeeguy]

Its not PS fluid that goes in there.

Why?

I don't see an easy way to flush & replace... I did just use O'Relly's cheep PS fluid to replace that lost during the pump exchange and cooler cleaning.

I'm all for using the best fluids - wish I hadn't bought a gallon jug of power steering fluid!

 

[Frisbeeguy]

Check the rack bolts, sub frame bolts, and upper strut mounts. Side to side movement is a bad thing.

Everything is tight and solid. The original sub-frame bushings are good. The car is a dd and not (too) abused or driven hard... just try to keep up w/ traffic.

I've never touched the struts (they are "on the list") but they were replaced by the po at the local service station.

It seems like there just isn't fluid flow so it's starving the pump causing the whine... that's just my gut feeling - nothing substantial to base it on.

Is there any way to pinch a line between the rack and sub-frame? It's a B*%#ch to get to not to mention the hassle of getting everything lifted / blocked up. (and my van is also on stands already waiting for transmission rebuild)

 

[Frisbeeguy]

Try loosening the power steering belt tensioner pulley nut just slightly. Several times when I thought I had a bad power steering pump, I found an overly tight pulley nut. I'd loosen it just a tiny bit and the noise would go away immediately.

Thanks - don't think this is the problem. I did remove the idler pulley yesterday when changing out the pump and it seems sound. Rolls freely w/o any looseness.