Power Steering Pump Seal Failure - Anyone Else?

[Paladin06Greg]

I just haven't had much good luck as of late. I went to get my new wheels put on today and while the car was up on the lift the mechanic informed me that my power steering pump fwd seal is shot. I went and had a look and sure enough, damn pump is wet. It's not pouring out but a wet pump surface is a bad thing.

Well there goes part of my tax refund.

[krazeee1707]

never had it on my solara...but i did have it on my 92 camry. The part alone cost me 500 bucks...had the labor done myself w/ some help. Was your car having a wierd whining noise?

[Paladin06Greg]

Nope no noise, yet!

never had it on my solara...but i did have it on my 92 camry. The part alone cost me 500 bucks...had the labor done myself w/ some help. Was your car having a wierd whining noise?

[offthahook]

Yes. Mine was leaking at 70K. Like $600 at the dealer, so I asked the service writer if they have many failures. His response was "No, bring me a used one and it'll be $250 for labor." What I did was get a used one FOR $30!!! I had a friend of mine do it in his spare time at his work and it was like $75 labor. No probs since. You can get that pump from a Camry, Sienna, Avalon, Solara, maybe others. My used pump had like 32K on it... Go salvage, low mile. Tons available.

[Dawgz]

how do u tell if its leaking?

[Paladin06Greg]

Yea I priced on here in DE and it was $465.00 the I had Carlos Jr get me a price in MD and it was $310.00, hummm. No doubt where I'll buy mine from.

Yes. Mine was leaking at 70K. Like $600 at the dealer, so I asked the service writer if they have many failures. His response was "No, bring me a used one and it'll be $250 for labor." What I did was get a used one FOR $30!!! I had a friend of mine do it in his spare time at his work and it was like $75 labor. No probs since. You can get that pump from a Camry, Sienna, Avalon, Solara, maybe others. My used pump had like 32K on it... Go salvage, low mile. Tons available.

[Paladin06Greg]

Wet spot on the garage floor and a wet pump housing.

how do u tell if its leaking?

[camcar se]

I had the same problem on my 93 camry v6, got it salvage I had to replace the rack and pinion to which let me tell you, the pump isnt anything compared to changing that biatch. Anyway, listen to this, is this normal, on my solara se, I feel sometimes like the steering wheel comes back in a series of pumps if you will its hard to explain, like if I turn the wheel all the way the steering wheel wont come back to straight on its own in a nice steady return it kinda does a series of movements, or if im on the highway and jerk it itll do it a little, like you can feel revelutions of the steering wheel returning to the straight spot, that may not make much sense its hard to explain, I was just wondering if all solaras do this or if its somthing I should look into, its not bad, not like the pump is failing, Ive experienced that its nothing like that, the power steering is fine, the wheel just has what I would call a series of return movements, hell I dunno, if you can decipher that cool, if not my bad, if your solara does it youll know what Im talking about. l8r

[dsmman]

I was at the dealer yesterday for an oil change. They said that my rear seal was leaking on my power steering. They said I didn't need to worry for awhile but the number you all were quoting was about what I was hearing.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

its not always the pump; on gen3 camrys and gen5/6 celica's - its most likely the high pressure hose that needs replacement. So it could be the same story for some of you guys..Its a 35 dollar part at a autoparts store. On my celica, i replaced the high-pressure p/steering hose and put in some 'powersteeting leak stop' fluid and it worked like a charm for two years that i owned thereafter!

[Paladin06Greg]

Thx I'll double check the HP hose..