'85 GSL-SE Power Steering Question
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From: New Jersey
'85 GSL-SE Power Steering Question
My '85 GSL-SE is leaking power steering fluid as fast as I put it in. Of course when it gets low, it makes the annoying whining sound. But if it gets I guess completely empty it stops making noise and the power assist stops working. My question, until I can find a power steering pump, am I hurting anything by not continually putting fluid in and essentially driving without power steering? Not having power steering doesn't really bother me much, I just don't want to be doing any serious damage in the process. Thanks.
Any time you hear the pump making a lot of noise, you are hurting it as the fluid serves as lubricant. The pump itself probably isn't leaking badly, but the low pressure hoses will spew out a ton of fluid if they are old and dried out. Order a rebuild kit for the pump from RockAuto, it's only a few dollars and you don't need any special tools to replace all the seals. The workshop manual at Foxed.ca shows you step by step how to do it. You'll spend more time getting it out of the car and cleaning it off than you will rebuilding it. When you put it back in, replace the low pressure hoses with quality fuel line. -8AN lines will work and you can pull the foam protective cover off the original line and slide it over the new one. Use a new belt and don't over tension it. Get it just tight enough to not squeal at high RPM.
84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,584
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Be sure it's leaking from the pu p before you start to rebuild. I found that the way the main shaft is held on the pump by a simple C-clip, it allows the shaft to slide forward and leak fluid out the front of the pump. Simply turning over a washer that rides on the clip restores the correct dimensions - for awhile, anyway.
I found that my pump wasn't the only problem, as the recirculating ball system in the steering box was the source of the leak. At that point, I was frustrated, removed the PS belt, and have been driving it as a manual steering car for the past few years with no ill effects.
I found that my pump wasn't the only problem, as the recirculating ball system in the steering box was the source of the leak. At that point, I was frustrated, removed the PS belt, and have been driving it as a manual steering car for the past few years with no ill effects.
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From: New Jersey
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From: Dallas
My '85 GSL-SE is leaking power steering fluid as fast as I put it in. Of course when it gets low, it makes the annoying whining sound. But if it gets I guess completely empty it stops making noise and the power assist stops working. My question, until I can find a power steering pump, am I hurting anything by not continually putting fluid in and essentially driving without power steering? Not having power steering doesn't really bother me much, I just don't want to be doing any serious damage in the process. Thanks.
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84SE-EGI helpy-helperton
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,584
Likes: 542
From: Phoenix, AZ
205/55-15x7@36psi = manageable.
Get the car moving at all and it gets a whole lot easier to turn. Road feel is good, and stable on the freeway. I do miss the sense of agility and singleness the PS provided, though. I'll get it working again someday,
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