Steering was groaning especially in the morning when cold. I topped off the fluid which was low and replaced the two washers, but I'm still seeing bubble in in the reservoir when I turn the wheel to extremes.

What should be replaced next? Reservoir and hoses? Pump?

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...-scans-841134/



one of the largest and most common DIY’s on this sub.

rebuild the pump!

 

Thank you, that is very helpful.

It's possible I didn't adequately bleed out the air in the line after the washer replacement this weekend. Will continue to work on it to make sure the problem is not fixed already.

It also looks like you can buy a non-OEM pump on Amazon for $50 (e.g., /). Assuming they're not total crap, it seems like it might be worth it and less of a hassle to just swap out the pump.

 

DO NOT BUY ANY CAR PART, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT HAS MOVING PARTS, ON AMAZON!!!!!!

Just imagine if the internals of the PS pump (rotor and veins) explode while spinning ~6,000rpm. It's going to send metal shrapnel and shavings all throughout the hard lines, soft lines, reservoir & rack! In order to replace the steering rack, you need to drop the entire sub-frame, while simultaneously supporting the entire engine and tranny.

All to save ~$150 on a non-OEM part.

 

rebuilding the pump with OEM rubber seals takes only a few dollars.. I don't know why you would risk a shitty non-OE Amazon pump.. to save what?

 

It's manufacturer is "Papa Parts"

You know when you get lost down a YT/Instagram wormhole and end up watching a video of some random dude in Bangladesh wearing flip-flops, shorts, a t-shirt and zero PPE, who's pouring a ladle of molten hot liquid aluminum into a sand mold that his buddy dug out of the ground with nothing more than a stick and a piece of bubblegum?? THAT'S exactly where this power steering pump was made and manufactured.

Now tell me; was it worth it?

 

OK, you guys have convinced me.

But it would have been worth $40 (I suspect the O-rings will come to $20 with shipping) to save me the time and hassle of disassembling the pump. Meanwhile, I'm seeing OEM pumps in the $400-500 range.

 

the OEM pump cover seal alone is $40!

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/oem-pa...al-91349r70p01
https://www.acurapartswarehouse.com/...9-R70-P01.html

I suppose you're going to tell me now that I can't buy non-OEM seals either!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805998576920.html
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&pt=7407&jsn=8

 

You can buy the seals and a new bearing but that will be at least $40 min. You can always go with an aftermarket pump and pray! I did an after-market pump on my 2007 TL-S, I tried to rebuild the OE one but the vanes were torn up and had the same output even after the rebuild. I think it was like $70 on ebay and was one of the top selling items. It's been running ok for the last few hundred miles (barely driven) with no issues that I could tell.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185981706414

 

The noise is much better today, but I don't know if it's because I replaced the two external inlet/outlet hose seals and got the air out or whether it was because it's been much warmer here. Time will tell.

If the noise returns, I'll probably get this well-reviewed Sunsong seal kit ( ) and attempt the rebuild minus removing the shaft and replacing the thick inner seal.

 

The noise returned, so I did the rebuild minus the inner shaft seal (no impact wrench, so could NOT get the pulley wheel off).

Seems much better so far, but there's still a little faint moaning at times.