1996 850 Power Steering Pump Replacement Options

sventastic · Post by **sventastic** » 07 Jul 2020, 12:52

Hey everyone, my power steering pump is on its way out based on the awful groaning noises and dry steering feel that have been worsening over the past several months.

My local parts shop has the pump for $260+core (yeah right), so I'm planning to order from RockAuto since shipping isn't too crazy to Canada. I'm leaning towards the AC Delco, I know it's not OEM but I only drive about 10,000km per year and I can't imagine it would last anything less than 50k.

My main question is - how easy is it to swap out the pump from the existing reservoir? Would it be worth the extra $32 to just get the BBB pump which comes with a new reservoir? From Robert DIY's reservoir replacement video, it doesn't look too bad to just replace the pump and keep the original reservoir, but I'm not sure if it's something worth replacing with a non-OEM part. Also, does the pulley need to come off to replace the pump? I've seen mention of a special tool needed for that, but didn't see one in Robert's video.

List of the RockAuto options below:

Post by **misha** » 07 Jul 2020, 14:12

Why don't buy used one from a junkyard?
They are not really prone to failure if they are not starved for oil.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Jul 2020, 14:39

I agree with Misha that they aren't prone to failure but I did have one fail on a 97 850 with less than 140,000km. The secret to long life of the pumps is not surprising in maintenance with oil changes.

Apart from the hassle, changing a pump is not too bad. The risk is whether a used one is any worse than a new aftermarket one. The bonus is a new aftermarket one will have some sort of warranty, but who knows what sort of quality they are. AC Delco usually have decent quality but who knows these days.

Good luck whichever way you go.

Neil.

Post by **kallekula** » 07 Jul 2020, 15:21

Pump on my S70 gave up after ca 250k miles. Started leaking a lot. Bought new used one from the bone yard

EDIT: Price at bone yard around $30+tax

sventastic · Post by **sventastic** » 07 Jul 2020, 16:25

misha wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 14:12 Why don't buy used one from a junkyard?
They are not really prone to failure if they are not starved for oil.

scot850 wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 14:39 I agree with Misha that they aren't prone to failure but I did have one fail on a 97 850 with less than 140,000km. The secret to long life of the pumps is not surprising in maintenance with oil changes.

Apart from the hassle, changing a pump is not too bad. The risk is whether a used one is any worse than a new aftermarket one. The bonus is a new aftermarket one will have some sort of warranty, but who knows what sort of quality they are. AC Delco usually have decent quality but who knows these days.

Good luck whichever way you go.

Neil.

kallekula wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 15:21 Pump on my S70 gave up after ca 250k miles. Started leaking a lot. Bought new used one from the bone yard

EDIT: Price at bone yard around $30+tax

I wish. The only local junkyard is run by nutjobs who want $100 for a used one... They don't have reasonable prices on anything

I think I might take my chances with the AC Delco, and if I send them the core back it'll only be about $90 all-in with return shipping. I just really hope it's not the rack. Since I got the car I've driven 40,000km and the fluid has always been nice and red in the reservoir, but it started bubbling occasionally a little while back.

Post by **scot850** » 07 Jul 2020, 16:43

That is what started happening on the 850 that had the pump failure. Hopefully it is only the pump.

Hopefully tha AC Delco should be good. Is it a new one or a rebuild?

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 07 Jul 2020, 18:07

FCP has a Maval brand for 125 USD. LIFETIME WARRANTY of course

sventastic · Post by **sventastic** » 08 Jul 2020, 12:26

scot850 wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 16:43 That is what started happening on the 850 that had the pump failure. Hopefully it is only the pump.

Hopefully tha AC Delco should be good. Is it a new one or a rebuild?

Neil.

Yes, fingers crossed!

The AC Delco is a rebuild

abscate wrote: ↑07 Jul 2020, 18:07 FCP has a Maval brand for 125 USD. LIFETIME WARRANTY of course

Yeah, I rarely buy non-OEM parts but this is one where I can't quite stomach the cost. FCP wants $50 for the core, and with potential duties/taxes to ship to Canada I'd be looking at about $300CAD before returning the core. I love FCP but that ain't happenin!

sventastic · Post by **sventastic** » 13 Jul 2020, 13:34

I just want to put up a shoutout to RockAuto... I ordered the pump last Wednesday, it shipped out 63 minutes after my order confirmation, then arrived this morning 3 days ahead of schedule. All the way from New York to Vancouver Island, BC with the cheapest shipping option ($15CAD). Really impressed. Excited to start the work tonight!

Post by **scot850** » 13 Jul 2020, 17:03

Just realised you were on Vancouver Island. Are those 'nutjobs' by any chance Chapmans? If so, their prices are high, but what you get is normally excellent. I have no complaints other than some of their pricing.

A few 850's have just of course come into the 2 PnP yards here. I could have pulled one and shipped it as I am going there tomorrow. Rock Auto have been good to me over the few occasions I have used them. Mostly for Toyota parts where they supply some OEM parts like Denso branded parts.

Neil.