Well I lost all my power steering fluid. Once I got the car on the lift I noticed that the fluid is coming out from the pump itself. I got the pump out and the gasket is a plastic rubbercoated thing and it appears that the rubber coating seperated from the plastic. I inspected the pump and everything on the inside looks nice and kosher; bearings are tight, shaft has no leak and no unusual wear. I have no means of checking the bypass valve but it doesn't look bad.

So, my question is, does anyone know what usually fails in those pumps? Do I just make a new gasket for it and see if that solves it?

 

Well, for the curious minds. I replaced the gasket and guess what, the same thing, but now I noticed that it also foams and shoots the fluid out of the PS reservoir.

I assume it's the pressure valve that is stuck and I have a re-manufactured pump on order.

 

Adam, of course you've gone back to the rack and inspected the lines to and from the rack?

 

I had the same problem on an XJ8 I owned- when I replaced the gasket it still leaked... very frustrating