Power Steering Pump Replacement - 90 Q45

[photographybytmc]

Hey guys.. I am back :-) You guys were a lot of help bringing my Q45 perfomance back up to par few years back.

Well just turned 203K and flew through Calif. smog check :-)

Now I Got leak and noise coming from powersteering pump..bought used pump on EBAY and getting ready to change out.

Any tips & tricks would be much appreciatied! any special tools required?

Please & Thanks

NICO ROCKS!

[Infinitiguy19]

How do you know that you don't have a leak and the reservoir is just low?

Go to http://nicoclub.com/FSM to see how to change it.

[maxnix]

Pumps almost never fail. Racks do, but not pumps unless seriously abused.

[photographybytmc]

Hey guys..Thanks for the quick Reply's ..

As for "How do you know then it's the pump.." .. well that's why I came here for help..you guys kept me strait last time.

Pump has had long term slow leak over the years..I have treated it with additive to swell the seals but otherwise I have neglected it ... now I am getting what sounds like a little bearing whine from the pump area.

Might good be the hoses ??

How do I know if is the rack? (have not felt any looseness while driving..) How do I check?

[qship96]

Are you sure it is not one of the idler pullys making the noise? Very common on old Q.

[photographybytmc]

Ummm..Dunno about the idler pullies..although we replaced one some 5yrs ago. DO we replace? or press bearings for idler pullies?

[qship96]

Your choice- easiest to just get the correct factory pully assemblies{all 3} and swap once and forget it for the next 10 years......or search for quality aftermarket bearings,purchase,disassemble, take to competant shop to get pressed in/out, then install.........option one seems easier and more efficient to me.

[maxnix]

5 years is pretty long for a pulley bearing. Be sure to use the premium ones like Nissan does. About $20 each, retail. No Chinese! Replace all other belts and any pulley that is not perfect while you are there to save future repeat labor.

Check your hose form the reservoir to the pump. Common to seep.

Only thing besides M1 ATF or other correct synthetic to add is the BG Power Steering Fluid Conditioner. Nothing else!

[qship96]

Why would you want to add the BG conditioner soup to change the characteristics of the dexron atf that the factory specs? Un-necessary and not endorsed by Nissan. Synthetic Dexron alone, changed at reasonable intervals will ensure a long system life.......I am at 223,000 on all original rack/pump/hoses,etc if you want real world experience.

[mattd1979]

I have a question regarding the pump. My brother is having an issue with his where the pump has a wine sound as if it is almost completely empty even though it is full and the power steering is almost non-existent. Do you think there could be a blockage in one of the hoses like maybe a collapsed hose that could cause this? I'm thinking the pump is bad but I don't want to go replace it just to find out it was something deeper like a collapsed hose or a bad valve in the rack. I have heard of the inner linear in some hydraulic hoses collapsing, causing a blockage and you couldn't tell by looking at the outside of the hose.

Matt

[maxnix]

Why would you want to add the BG conditioner soup to change the characteristics of the dexron atf that the factory specs? Un-necessary and not endorsed by Nissan. Synthetic Dexron alone, changed at reasonable intervals will ensure a long system life.

Ask BG. TexasOil advised me that the ATF does not contain additives to ensure seal condition, so he recommended and suitable additive or some MMO with annual changes. So ask him also.

He knows a hell of a lot more about petrochemicals than I so, so I defer. One rack on one of my G50 did fail sealing with M1 in it. For the minimal extra cost, I will continue to do it. My tech lso spontaneously mentioned he keeps it on hand for weeping steering racks.

[maxnix]

Pumps seldom fail, so check for air first, then check hoses.

[Q45tech]

19.5 years and 322,000 miles on 1990 rack [3 sets of new boots] and ps pump [ every hose has been replaced at least once some twice].

Important to flush ATF frequently as in summer it operates at an extremely high temperature for ATF.....................based on some recorded temperatures [>240F] I change annually and chemical flush every 3 years.Probably overkill but cheap and easy.

[maxnix]

And note that urban driving is even more stressful than highway.

[mattd1979]

Late update.....The pump locked up as he was pulling into the driveway. They replaced the pump with another that I had in Zephyrhills that I brought back with me. The steering seems to be working fine now. I'm not sure if a bearing was the culprit or what. I had them save it for me so that one day I can tear into it to see what happened.