I need a new PS pump.

[Stanglover]

Guys, I found a small leak on my Ford Thompson PS pump. I have alternatives obviously, BUT which way do I go.....
1) repair the pump I have, needs a new front shaft seal. Shaft could be worn so will leak again in time.
2) buy a reman pump without reservoir. Many vendors, NDP, Rock Auto etc. Core charges can be high up front plus shipping hassle.
3) buy one with reservoir, but the one's shown look like they had been rusty.
4) buy a NEW pump complete. More money, BUT no core charge and return hassles.
5) On R/A, several shown, Lares, Cardone, BBB and AAE, varying in price from $129 to 170 Cdn + taxes and shipping. All seem to have good manufacturing processes. So the question there is "do you really get what you pay for"?
What are your thoughts and has anyone bought one of these. If so which one.

 

[Hemikiller]

#6 - send it to Dan @ Chockostang and have him rebuild it. He has great feedback and does a lot of work for the 65-70 external ram setup.

Have heard plenty of horror stories about reman pumps. I rebuild my own and haven't had one leak on me yet. The kit is under $20.

 

[c9zx]

+1 on what Hemi said. "Have heard plenty of horror stories about reman pumps. I rebuild my own and haven't had one leak on me yet. The kit is under $20."

 

[Stanglover]

#6 - send it to Dan @ Chockostang and have him rebuild it. He has great feedback and does a lot of work for the 65-70 external ram setup.

Have heard plenty of horror stories about reman pumps. I rebuild my own and haven't had one leak on me yet. The kit is under $20.

Rebuilding my own is certainly my preferred option and for me, quite easy compared to rebuilding PS boxes and I've done 3 of them now. I no longer have access to a machine shop, so regrinding or even polishing the shaft if needed is something I'd have to pay for, hence my questions about other options. I like cheap, so a rebuild will be first, then go from there If I have to and for that, I think I'd go for a totally new pump.
Thanks for your opinion.

 

[tony-muscle]

Rebuilding my own is certainly my preferred option and for me, quite easy compared to rebuilding PS boxes and I've done 3 of them now. I no longer have access to a machine shop, so regrinding or even polishing the shaft if needed is something I'd have to pay for, hence my questions about other options. I like cheap, so a rebuild will be first, then go from there If I have to and for that, I think I'd go for a totally new pump.
Thanks for your opinion.

I can check in my garage. Before I switched to the Saginaw pump I needed a new can but had to buy a whole pump because i couldn't find just the can. That said, I figured that there should be a new pump somewhere in my private junk yard. However, my memory is terrible and I may have already given it away. If I find it, I can let you know and you just pay for shipping.

 

[Stanglover]

I can check in my garage. Before I switched to the Saginaw pump I needed a new can but had to buy a whole pump because i couldn't find just the can. That said, I figured that there should be a new pump somewhere in my private junk yard. However, my memory is terrible and I may have already given it away. If I find it, I can let you know and you just pay for shipping.

Tony, that sounds interesting. PM me if you find it. Thanks.

 

[71ProjectJunk]

My stock PS pump was dead when I bought my car. I bought a brand new pump with a new reservoir, can't remember what brand it was (I can find it if you like as I have the box with the old pump in it), but it looked identical to the stock pump, had a nice black paint job on it, and it works perfectly. It was like $120-$130.

 

[Stanglover]

My stock PS pump was dead when I bought my car. I bought a brand new pump with a new reservoir, can't remember what brand it was (I can find it if you like as I have the box with the old pump in it), but it looked identical to the stock pump, had a nice black paint job on it, and it works perfectly. It was like $120-$130.

If you have time to find it, the brand would be useful info, thanks.

 

[71ProjectJunk]

It is a Cardone 96-7054. Rock Auto has it for $135.79

 

[Stanglover]

It is a Cardone 96-7054. Rock Auto has it for $135.79

Ok thanks for the info.
I'm currently looking at the rebuild kit and puller/installer tools from NPD.
The leak is minimal, but I won't know how bad it really is until I get it stripped down. However the more info and feedback I/we get, is great for all of us.
Your input is much appreciated.

 

[tony-muscle]

Is the leak from the shaft or from in between core and can? Mine was leaking in between the core and can because the can was distorted. The new can as explained in my last post took care of that leak. Eventually I had another leak which is when I gave up and went to the Saginaw mod.

 

[RC92234]

I had mine rebuilt by a small shop in Texas and the one they returned to me was not the one I sent them. The hose connection was incorrect and I hadn't changed the hoses, so I knew it was the wrong pump. They'd done a nice job powdercoating the pump and stick, but it still didn't fit. Sent it back with AMPLE illustrations as to why that pump was never going to fit the original hoses. He said he'd poke around and see if he could find mine. I did finally get a pump back that fit. Was it mine? I had no way to tell, but it fit and it worked.

Fast forward to 1.5 years later, pump starts whining and has developed a slight leak from the rear. So now, do I send it our for repair again not knowing if was my original and/or if this pump even had internals rebuilt? Or just order up a new one, which from the comments above, is sure to be an inferior foreign replacement?

As to the "do it yourself" argument, I don't have the tools and, I don't know if this pump is even my original pump. As it is, if I ordered new I'd need to find someone to pull the old pulley and put it on the new.

 

[71ProjectJunk]

The power steering pump pulley puller can be bought for $20 bucks from Harbor Freight and it is easy to use. I thankfully had one when I did my pump last year.
https://www.harborfreight.com/pulley-remover-and-installer-set-12-pc-63068.html

 

[Stanglover]

Is the leak from the shaft or from in between core and can? Mine was leaking in between the core and can because the can was distorted. The new can as explained in my last post took care of that leak. Eventually I had another leak which is when I gave up and went to the Saginaw mod.

Tony, at this point I don't know for sure as the pump is still on the car and it's still too cold to piss around with it. It indeed could be the can seal, but I suspect the shaft seal at this time. There is a dent in the can, but that's been there for several years and no leaks till now. The pump I have was bought along with a V/R PS box that came off a Mach 1, which I had rebuilt locally. The pump has been faultless till now, the box, not so much and that story has been discussed many times.

Whichever way I decide to go, new or rebuild my own, thank you all for your valuable input and suggestions. I'll update later when I get around to it when the weather warms up a tad.

 

[Stanglover]

The power steering pump pulley puller can be bought for $20 bucks from Harbor Freight and it is easy to use. I thankfully had one when I did my pump last year.
https://www.harborfreight.com/pulley-remover-and-installer-set-12-pc-63068.html

Ah, that looks interesting! To buy separately from NPD would be around 32 bucks plus cost of mail. The wife is headed to Florida soon, so maybe I can have her pick one up and bring it back.......... if I talk nice to her!! Thanks for the tip.

 

[Stanglover]

I had mine rebuilt by a small shop in Texas and the one they returned to me was not the one I sent them. The hose connection was incorrect and I hadn't changed the hoses, so I knew it was the wrong pump. They'd done a nice job powdercoating the pump and stick, but it still didn't fit. Sent it back with AMPLE illustrations as to why that pump was never going to fit the original hoses. He said he'd poke around and see if he could find mine. I did finally get a pump back that fit. Was it mine? I had no way to tell, but it fit and it worked.

Fast forward to 1.5 years later, pump starts whining and has developed a slight leak from the rear. So now, do I send it our for repair again not knowing if was my original and/or if this pump even had internals rebuilt? Or just order up a new one, which from the comments above, is sure to be an inferior foreign replacement?

As to the "do it yourself" argument, I don't have the tools and, I don't know if this pump is even my original pump. As it is, if I ordered new I'd need to find someone to pull the old pulley and put it on the new.

I see your problem and yes, do we buy "new Chinese" junk or rebuild what we have.
On NPD's website under power steering pumps, there is a cheesy video showing how to rebuild the Ford pump. One of the "guys" said he used a surface grinder to "touch up" the face of the front plate (I think it was) BUT after that the pump whined despite removing only about .0005". Still it was worth a look at.
As for a puller/installer, see the above post re Harbor Freight. Sound like a good deal to me.

 

[KevinP]

I used www.powersteering.com to rebuild both my pump and steering box and they did a great job

 

[Stanglover]

I used www.powersteering.com to rebuild both my pump and steering box and they did a great job

That's good to know Kevin and thanks, but living in Canada, shipping out of country is not a viable option. Even within Canada, there are only a few companies who rebuild pumps and PS boxes. Shipping anything is getting ridiculously expensive.
Perhaps I'm lucky that I have the mechanical ability to do my own work, something not everybody has the luxury of.

 

[tony-muscle]

Tony, that sounds interesting. PM me if you find it. Thanks.

Geoff, I found the pump way deep in my box pile. I am almost sure I bought this one from O'Reilly, most likely remanufactured. I bought it about five years ago and it has never been used since I only used the can. I can send it to you even with the old ford blue can if interested - the can will leak since it is out of round. You just cover shipping.

 

[Stanglover]

Geoff, I found the pump way deep in my box pile. I am almost sure I bought this one from O'Reilly, most likely remanufactured. I bought it about five years ago and it has never been used since I only used the can. I can send it to you even with the old ford blue can if interested - the can will leak since it is out of round. You just cover shipping.

Sounds like an offer I can't refuse Tony. Thanks. I'll send a PM (coversation!) and go from there.