92 Buick Regal replacing power steering pump
Cantankerous
02-14-2005, 04:13 PM
Could someone give me some help I would like to replace my power steering pump. Is it a big job, can someone walk me through it?
PFJ5K
02-15-2005, 04:09 PM
Replacing the power steering pump is a fairly easy job. I'll assume your car has the 3800 engine since that's what most regals came with.
1) Remove the serpentine belt. The belt tensioner is mounted between the power steering pump and the alternator. The tensioner pulley has a nut on the outside of it. Put a socket or a box wrench on this nut and try to turn it in a counter clockwise direction. This should pull the tensioner away from the belt enough that you can slip the belt off.
2) Remove the two bolts that hold the pump to the engine. The bottom bolt is hidden underneath the pump. Put a socket through one of the holes in the pulley to get at it.
3) Remove the two hoses attached to the pump. The pressure line is on the bottom of the pump itself and has a metal fitting. The return line is attached to the reservoir and is just a pice of tubing with a hose clamp on it. The pump will start leaking oil all over the place once the lines are disconnected so have a tray ready to put it in. Tie the two lines up so that they don't fall over and start pouring out oil.
4) The new pump may come with a pulley and reservoir, but if not you will have to transfer them from the old pump to the new one. The replacement should come with directions on how to do this but you will probably need a gear puller to get the pulley off the old pump.
5) Attach the two power steering lines to the new pump. Reinstall the two bolts that hold the pump to the engine. Put back the serpentine belt. This may be a good time to install a new belt if it hasn't been done in a while.
6) Fill the reservoir with power steering fluid.
7) Start the engine and turn the wheels all the way to the left and right several times to bleed any air out of the system. Check the fluid level and make sure that it is at the full line.
8) Check the fluid for the next couple of days since any air left in the system will make its way out as you drive and the fluid level may go down. Also be sure to check that nothing is leaking after you have driven the car for a while.
If your car has the 3.1 liter engine the procedure should be very similar. The 3.1 has the pump located right next to the engine and above the water pump so it may be a little more difficult to get at the bolts and hoses.
1) Remove the serpentine belt. The belt tensioner is mounted between the power steering pump and the alternator. The tensioner pulley has a nut on the outside of it. Put a socket or a box wrench on this nut and try to turn it in a counter clockwise direction. This should pull the tensioner away from the belt enough that you can slip the belt off.
2) Remove the two bolts that hold the pump to the engine. The bottom bolt is hidden underneath the pump. Put a socket through one of the holes in the pulley to get at it.
3) Remove the two hoses attached to the pump. The pressure line is on the bottom of the pump itself and has a metal fitting. The return line is attached to the reservoir and is just a pice of tubing with a hose clamp on it. The pump will start leaking oil all over the place once the lines are disconnected so have a tray ready to put it in. Tie the two lines up so that they don't fall over and start pouring out oil.
4) The new pump may come with a pulley and reservoir, but if not you will have to transfer them from the old pump to the new one. The replacement should come with directions on how to do this but you will probably need a gear puller to get the pulley off the old pump.
5) Attach the two power steering lines to the new pump. Reinstall the two bolts that hold the pump to the engine. Put back the serpentine belt. This may be a good time to install a new belt if it hasn't been done in a while.
6) Fill the reservoir with power steering fluid.
7) Start the engine and turn the wheels all the way to the left and right several times to bleed any air out of the system. Check the fluid level and make sure that it is at the full line.
8) Check the fluid for the next couple of days since any air left in the system will make its way out as you drive and the fluid level may go down. Also be sure to check that nothing is leaking after you have driven the car for a while.
If your car has the 3.1 liter engine the procedure should be very similar. The 3.1 has the pump located right next to the engine and above the water pump so it may be a little more difficult to get at the bolts and hoses.
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