Power steering pump

[m16goo]

Hi Guys, I am new to the forum and America!! I recently moved to Milwaukee from Scotland and bought a 96 Toyota Avalon XLS from a friend. The car has 210,000 miles and was running like a dream.

A couple of weeks ago the power steering started making noise and it has got progressively worse. I went into a garage and the guy said the power steering pump is done. He said I need a new power steering pump, a pressure feed tube and a high pressure hose. He quoted me $15156.65 for Toyota parts and $200 cheaper for after market parts. The garage is an import specialist place.

To me this seemed a lot of money but I don't know cars. I guess there is a leak as he had to top up the power steering fluid. I am going to hit up some other garages tomorrow but was wondering if anyone could offer any advice? I have a couple of questions.

1) Is there much difference between Toyota and after market parts? What would you recommend?
2) If there is a leak does the Pump, Pressure Feed Tube and High Pressure Hose all need replaced or is the guy trying to rob me of all my money?

Thanks in advance of any replies.

Cheers
Mark

[fourwheeler]

If the power steering pump is just leaking, there is a rebuild kit for around $20. Gary the parts man can quote you for OEM + a %30 discount. I replaced my rack & pinion and power steering pump last year with used parts. It took another guy and myself approximately 5 hours but we got it done and it works great. I think I had $250 invested in the job doing it myself.

Personally, I'd get a few more quotes. Price sounds a bit high. These Gen 1 Avalons are known to have leaking rack & pinions, and power steering pumps.

Good luck. Post back with what you find out.

[Jack Deth]

Originally Posted by m16goo

Hi Guys, I am new to the forum and America!! I recently moved to Milwaukee from Scotland and bought a 96 Toyota Avalon XLS from a friend. The car has 210,000 miles and was running like a dream.

A couple of weeks ago the power steering started making noise and it has got progressively worse. I went into a garage and the guy said the power steering pump is done. He said I need a new power steering pump, a pressure feed tube and a high pressure hose. He quoted me $15156.65 for Toyota parts and $200 cheaper for after market parts. The garage is an import specialist place.

To me this seemed a lot of money but I don't know cars. I guess there is a leak as he had to top up the power steering fluid. I am going to hit up some other garages tomorrow but was wondering if anyone could offer any advice? I have a couple of questions.

1) Is there much difference between Toyota and after market parts? What would you recommend?
2) If there is a leak does the Pump, Pressure Feed Tube and High Pressure Hose all need replaced or is the guy trying to rob me of all my money?

Thanks in advance of any replies.

Cheers
Mark

a brand new OEM is a better part, it's all new. the aftermarket part is remanufactured, probably a used toyota pump that has been stripped, cleaned, inspected and reassembled with new wear items like bearings and seals.
i have used remanufactured parts with no issues. if you think about it, the rest of the car isn't exactly new, either. they all carry some warranty. rock auto sells them for your car for approx $150.
the reason they want to replace the hose is that the pump (re)manufacturer's warranty is void if you do not replace the hose. they don't want to be responsible if the crap that is stuck to the inside if the hose screws up their new-ish pump. a new hose is around 30 bucks.
you kinda stuttered on the price. if you meant 1500, it sounds like you are getting reamed. i did this job once on my old t-bird. the toughest part was that i needed a special tool to pull off the pulley. otherwise, it was just nuts and bolts.
unless the engine has to be pulled (doubtful), this should be, guessing, around a 500 dollar job with a reman. pump, at a shop other than a dealership.

[m16goo]

Thanks for the input guys. I will keep you posted. I went to get quotes today but no one was open. I guess garages were closed for the holiday!

Speak to you soon. Thanks again
Mark

[BMR]

I replaced the pump in my Avalon about a year or two ago. It's not easy; access to the hose couplers is difficult. Took me a couple hours to get it all done. I used an aftermarket pump. I didn't replace the hoses, but that's probably a good thing to do for the reasons Jack Deth mentioned. I haven't had any problems with the aftermarket pump.

[turbofrank@verizon]

Replaced my pump about 3mo ago about $150 for pump and $200 labor shade tree mech.

[m16goo]

UPDATE

I topped up my power steering fluid last week and the pump is making no noise now. Seems the pump had run dry and the little fluid I put in last time had done no good.

I have continued to shop around for quotes and the consensus is that the leak is actually in the power steering rack and pinion and not the actual pump or the hoses!

The best quote I got was $760 to remove and replace the power steering rack and pinion and to do the front wheel alignment!

Is this a reasonable price? If not what should I expect to pay for the installation of an after market rack and pinion?

Thanks again
Mark

[Jigg007]

I think a rack and pinion units are usually under 300 for cars, and around 100 bux for a 4 wheel alignment.

But thats still 350 bux uncounted for, 5 hours to replace a rack at a shop seems a little high to me. But.. these cars are old, and rusty!

I had problems with my PS pump/rack. because I was poor at the time (and still am) I cracked open a lower joint on the rack to drain the fluid (unless there is a drain plug, cant remember, 2 years ago), and I filled it back up with a quart of lucas stop leak, and a quart of atf. It solved all my problems. Whining, complete loss of power.

[fourwheeler]

I just checked rockauto.com which had remanufactured rack & pinions with new inner tire rods for 125 - 215 depending on brand.

At $700 you are probably getting a fair price, but by no means a deal. I replaced mine myself and it was a lot of work and I got filled with oil but didn't have the money at the time to pay someone else to do it. If you could get the work done for around $500 I think you would be more in the ball park for an appropriate price. Your local garage will probably give you the best deal, not the dealership or a chain store.