[chuaed]

Hey guys,


I'm in need of a new steering pump.


Has anyone had experience with the Atlantic (AAE) steering pumps? Wonder how they compare to the zf/bosch ones. The AAE ones seem to cost a whole lot cheaper...


Thanks

Ed.

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[Waylander]

why do you need a new one?

 

just rebuild the one you have with a $30 repair kit.

 

the same pump is used on E30 E36 BMW so you might find a ZF one for those a bit cheaper

 

https://www.amazon.com/Rennbay-Power-Ste...B009I0UH06

 

the part number for a BMW pump that fits

32 41 1 135 880

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[chuaed]

Thanks for the advice. Is it always possible to do a rebuild 100% of the time?


I just had my steering rack rebuilt by the shop and after installing it back, the steering became extremely heavy and difficult to steer. Hence suspect it could be the steering pump though there isnt any visible leaks.. if the pump can be rebuilt with a $35 repair kit. I will certainly go down this path..

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[Waylander]

If the pump fails, which is extremely rare you would just have really heavy steering all the time it would not change the way the car handles


I would suggest that if it was fine before the rebuild then I would be suspecting the rack is not right


You could try bleeding the system correctly as per ZF instructions,

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[chuaed]

Yes i do agree that it may be that the rack rebuild wasnt done right. After the rack was rebuilt, the steering feel has been rather erractic. Mostly heavy in feel with occasional lightness. Its just really odd. It's getting re-done again now by my garage. Hopefully the problem goes away. If not, then it may be the pump after all.


Thanks for your inputs waylander!

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[ampegboy1]

FWIW (and in support of Waylander's suggestion), when the power assistance on my VW Polo started behaving erratically (mostly light with occasional heavy 'throbbing'), it was because the fluid had dropped below the minimum level. I believe this drew air into the system, which was causing the heavy spots. Maybe yours wasn't bled properly after the rack was replaced and the occasional lightness is when the fluid actually finds its way into the rack?

 

Michael

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[Waylander]

Power steering bleed instruntions

 

 

ZF-power-steering-flushing-and-bleeding.pdf Size: 397.37 KB  Downloads: 28

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[chuaed]

Thanks guys. Im still waiting for the rack to be rebuilt a second time. Will also ensure the system is properly bled. Fingers crossed!

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[chuaed]

Update: The specialist has rebuilt the rack with new seals 3 times now and the leak still persists. The rack works fine immediately after the rebuild but it starts to leak with hard steering after the car sits for more than half a day. This is extrememly frustrating. Not sure what the problem is! I'm considering getting a fully rebuilt unit from somewhere now....
If you guys have any ideas what could be the problem, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

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[chuaed]

Just thought I'd provide an update: Issue with my steering rack has finally been resolved. It was apparently an issue with the piston within the rack itself that was causing the random heavy/unassisted steering feel. It was "repaired" according to my garage mechanic and it now works fine.

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[Cloud9...68]

I have rebuilt my engine, built my own steering angle sensor, installed a full race suspension, fabricated my own fixed headlight conversion, etc., and nothing even comes close in complexity and aggravation level to the wretched task of rebuilding the steering rack.  A bunch of small, fragile (in the case of the plastic sealing rings) parts held together very tightly with close tolerances.  Said parts often went flying across my garage as I pulled the components apart, and broke when performing the brain-surgery level task of putting the blasted thing back together.  This is why you hear so many stories like yours of racks leaking, working intermittently, or not working at all, after getting rebuilt.  Glad to hear your shop finally got it right.

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