So I'm detailing my car (1985 IROC-Z 305 TPI) today in my garage. When I pull it out of the garage I notice a puddle of what looks like oil on the garage floor. I start looking underneath and don't notice anything that is leaking at the rate it would have to have been in order to leave that much oil. I don't know why, but I checked the fluid level in my power steering pump and there is none. I add a little to see what happens and it begins leaking out. Is this how they bad, or is there something else I should be looking for? How difficult are they to replace? Any special tools required? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Its not hard to change the PS pump, you just need to rent or buy a PS pump pulley tool, Places like autozone will lend ya one.

Just be careful when putting the new one on, my stock hose wasn't lining up just right and I stripped the thread on it. Thank god notthe thread in the new pump. Had to wait 2 more day to finish cause of that.

Only 1 hose has a threaded fitting, the other hose is just held on with a hose clamp. Factory its a non removable band but its the low pressure side and a normal hose clamp will hold it on fine.

 

Thanks for the reply Gumby. Is there any major concern about driving my car without power steering fluid? It may be a couple of days before I can get around to replacing the pump.

 

Is it definitely from the PS pump? I had leaks from my PS pump and my steering box. Both are pretty easy to replace. I think that the PS fluid is what lubricates the gears in the steering box, so it might wear with no PS fluid. Steering boxes are around $150 - $200, so I'd hate to see you do yours in if it's OK now.