Power steering bypass

[JLv70t5]

Hey all this may be really weird question.

My 98 v70 t5s power steering rack is leaking beyond repair. I have a parts car that I can pull the rack from and install but from what I've seen it's a big project that I don't think I'm equipped for without a lift and an engine crane.

I don't mind driving it without power steering it's been out for awhile.(Other than always looking like I dont know how to park) it steers fine going down the road.

I'm planning on bypassing the A/C and I was wondering if I would also be able to bypass the power steering pump??

Has anyone done this?
Can you get custom length belts made and how would i go about measuring the belt size that I need?
Would it make enough of a difference to be worth it?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all!

[Clemens]

I don't think there was an option of p80 Volvos w/o power steering anywhere, so probably there is no belt in the right length. But you could always leave the pump and drain it. This mught kill the bearing iver time though. You could also try to leave the fluid in and just make a bypass from pump out to pump in.

[abscate]

Someone here ran a PS pump dry for several hundred miles. I think I would just run a recirculation though. Pretty easy on the pre- 1999 models with reservoir on pump

You don’t need a lift or crane to do the rack though, the engine can be supported with lumber.

The engine bar from HF is only about $50 too.

[JLv70t5]

I've put about 2000 miles on it without fluid. I was surprised when i filled it up recently and actually had powersteeering for a short time until it all drained out. Other than keeping the pump good are there other benefits from running the bypass? Like I said I don't mind driving it as is. Will having a dry pump wear on other pulleys over time?

[abscate]

It’s just the pump seizing you will have to worry about. That will take out your SERP belt though, so no alternator when that happens. Maybe add 100 ml of ps fluid to the pump every month? I’m guessing here, no experience

[MoVolvos]

Can you get custom length belts made and how would i go about measuring the belt size that I need?
Would it make enough of a difference to be worth it?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thank you all!

Do not run it dry. As for the belt size, take some twine and loop it bypassing the PW ST Pump. Hope there is an idler pulley for adjusting tension.
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[callahanoffroad]

You don't need an engine lift to do the ps rack. I just did mine over the winter. You can use your jack and a few extra jack stands to support the engine from underneath. Gently of course so you don't crack the oil pan. It's a messy pain in the butt two day job but it's not very difficult. Just be methodical and safe. Take your time. Hardest part for me was getting the rack to physically slide out of the car, and then getting the steering column to connect to the new steering rack. It was about 10 degrees out and the aluminum connector contracted making it too small to slide over the top of the steering rack. So I had to heat it with a torch. Good times.

[JLv70t5]

Can anyone point me in the right direction how to recirculate the fluid in the pump? It seems like the best option for now but I can't seem to find any tutorials

[Sveedy]

I haven't done it either, but it should be about the same procedure as bypassing a heater core. Basically your just connecting the out flow port to the in flow port. Anyway that you can achieve that will work. Connect the two hoses together with a union of some sort, or maybe disconnect both at the reservoir and loop it right there. I'm not sure if you will need high pressure hose - I kind of think not, since the pump won't be doing anything but recirculating its fluid.

[tryingbe]

$200 + core for rack and pinion at Autozone with a life time warranty.
I'd go for that before you seize that power steering pump.