power steering pump

i had my 97 cavy in for a maintence checkup at the dealer a week or 2 ago, and they told me the seal was leaking on my power steering pump shaft, and a new seal would be $10 + labour.

today i picked my buddy up at his mechanic and asked him about doing the seal. he said he'd never done anything like that, and that he would always just replace the whole pump. he said on his car he'd definitely replace the whole pump. a new power steering pump would be $200-250 he said, plus labour. otherwise the seal would just keep leaking. and it would make sense because he's going to have the pump out anyways.

is somebody blowing smoke? my car just passed 90k, should i get the pump replaced or what?

If you have 90k miles on the car and it is leaking I would replace the pump too. The seal can be replaced but with the cost of labor to replace the seal and the possiblility of having it done over if the seal fails the replacement pump would be a wise decision at this point. Besides a reman pump is only $89 at Advance if it is a Z24. $42 if it is a 2.2 liter.

and you could do it yourself. if it is a 2.4 it is right there and very easy to install.