Power steering issues - pump on SR - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Rittmeister · 08-01-2008, 04:56 PM

Am having some troubles. This is on an S13 coupe with SR swap. Currently running an Autozone rebuilt KA powersteering pump with SR pulley and belt.

Last year about this time the car threw the belt - I replaced it and it ran fine since, until today. I was making an 8-hour drive home from a short vacation, and about two hours from home on a cloverleaf onramp the steering effort became quite high. I figured it had thrown the belt again and drove on home (there were no other issues).

After popping the hood, I found that the nut and lock washer that hold the pulley on the pump were nowhere to be found; the pulley was still on the shaft (held by the tension of the belt I suppose) but the splines of the shaft are a bit eaten up, and the splines in the center of the pulley are GONE. In fact, the hole is so perfectly round that I had to think for a minute to remember whether it had splines in the first place; I looked up a few aftermarket pulley sets to confirm that yes, it had splines, which means that the belt spinning the pulley on the shaft must have worn them completely away.

So, my question is: what might have caused this issue? The car was fine for over a year, and fine on the first leg of my trip. I am pretty sure I will need a new pump and pulley (might get aftermarket), but what can I do to ensure this doesn't happen again?

Thanks!

n240sxfnatic · 08-01-2008, 05:24 PM

how tight did u put the bolt on?

SoguRacing · 08-01-2008, 05:28 PM

maybe there is a restriction in the flow of the fluid causing it to put sudden large amounts of stress on the pump and stripping the splines.

Rittmeister · 08-01-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoguRacing

maybe there is a restriction in the flow of the fluid causing it to put sudden large amounts of stress on the pump and stripping the splines.

I doubt it, for one specific reason - at one point I was using an inferior low-pressure line (from the reservoir to the pump) and you could hear the pump trying to draw fluid, and feel the resistance in the steering, but nothing like this happened. Today, it was bam, no steering.

08-01-2008, 04:56 PM	#1
Rittmeister Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH Age: 48 Posts: 1,033 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Power steering issues - pump on SR Am having some troubles. This is on an S13 coupe with SR swap. Currently running an Autozone rebuilt KA powersteering pump with SR pulley and belt. Last year about this time the car threw the belt - I replaced it and it ran fine since, until today. I was making an 8-hour drive home from a short vacation, and about two hours from home on a cloverleaf onramp the steering effort became quite high. I figured it had thrown the belt again and drove on home (there were no other issues). After popping the hood, I found that the nut and lock washer that hold the pulley on the pump were nowhere to be found; the pulley was still on the shaft (held by the tension of the belt I suppose) but the splines of the shaft are a bit eaten up, and the splines in the center of the pulley are GONE. In fact, the hole is so perfectly round that I had to think for a minute to remember whether it had splines in the first place; I looked up a few aftermarket pulley sets to confirm that yes, it had splines, which means that the belt spinning the pulley on the shaft must have worn them completely away. So, my question is: what might have caused this issue? The car was fine for over a year, and fine on the first leg of my trip. I am pretty sure I will need a new pump and pulley (might get aftermarket), but what can I do to ensure this doesn't happen again? Thanks! __________________ E36 M3 - new project 1990 240SR - screamed down the road

08-01-2008, 05:28 PM	#3
SoguRacing Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: (714) Age: 39 Posts: 2,967 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: SoguRacing Feedback Score: 23 reviews	maybe there is a restriction in the flow of the fluid causing it to put sudden large amounts of stress on the pump and stripping the splines. __________________ Pre Tune Checkup! Compression,LeakDown,Vacuum Test $80. Cams Install: $180

08-01-2008, 05:24 PM	#2
n240sxfnatic Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Age: 37 Posts: 493 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	how tight did u put the bolt on?