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Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

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captain bobo
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:32 pm
Location: Kimbolton, Cambs

Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by captain bobo »

I'd like to pick the brains & experience of the forum please. I have to remove the Hobourn-Eaton power steering pump for repair and I'm looking for any tips. I figure that I should disconnect the 2 hoses from the steering box, the lowest point of the system, which would allow the fluid to drain out. Perhaps I should also remove the distributor cap and rotate the engine a few times on the starter to pump out fluid? One of the the three bolts that are used to mount the pump looks difficult to get at. I don't have access to a pit or a hoist but I can raise the front & put it on axle stands to improve access.

How much fluid does the complete system contain? Is there maybe a better approach? What might be the most difficult part of the removal? Are replacement filters for the reservoir easy to get?
Best wishes, Dave B

tjt77
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Re: Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by tjt77 »

pull the top of the reservoir and suck out as much fluid as you can with turkey baster.. for the lower part..its messy.. jack the car up and secure it with axle stands.. put a suitable size drain pan under there ( another piece you can borrow from the kitchen) loosten both hoses sufficiently for it to run down your arm and make a hasty retreat.. go have a glass or two of wine or beer. or a cocktail or two... come back later when its sufficiently drained..(allow and hour or so) if yon suck out the reservoir as above.. there will be less than a pint remaining in the system.. good luck..

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captain bobo
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:32 pm
Location: Kimbolton, Cambs

Re: Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by captain bobo »

What a difficult job! It took me most of the day!

Just in case anyone is mad enough to try this, here is what I did:-

1. I jacked the car up onto axle stands - one needs a fair amount of wriggle room underneath.
2. I used plastic tubing to siphon fluid out of the reservoir - it flows slowly!
3. I used thin plastic tubing (once used with air pump for an aquarium) to push down through the outlet from the reservoir to the pump & siphoned more fluid out - it flows very slowly!
4. I couldn't undo any of the pipe joints between the pump & the steering box, so I disconnected the metal pipes where they connect to the steering box. This flows fast and gets everywhere but thanks to the warning I had a handy drip tray and collected it all.
5. Undo the mounting plate that connects the reservoir to the inner wing.
6. Loosen the 2 jubilee clips on the top of the rubber outlet tubes from the reservoir.
7. Disconnect the high pressure hose from where it connects to the pipe that connects to the steering box.
8. Loosen the lower jubilee clip that feeds the pump from the reservoir.
9. Remove reservoir and connecting tube to pump
10. Remove the adjusting bolt & locking bolt from lower front of pump.
11. Remove upper mounting bolt from rear of pump (I had to remove the lhs rocker cover to gain access, very little room!)).
12. Move pump to the left to remove drive belt.
13. Carefully withdraw pump because it still has high pressure hose connected.
14. Remove high pressure line by undoing nut where metal pipe exits pump.
15. Have a very vary large drink!
Best wishes, Dave B

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captain bobo
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:32 pm
Location: Kimbolton, Cambs

Re: Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by captain bobo »

Pump now successfully replaced & all working well! The re-installation proved so much easier than the removal!

The main purpose of this update is to alert forum members of the terrible service that I got from one company and the excellent service that I got from another.

I sent my pump for refurbishing to Power Steering Services in Greenwich after speaking to them on the 'phone: they offered a 3 day turnaround. After a week I tried contacting them and the phone rang & rang but was never picked up. This went on for 4 days. On day 5 I spoke to an "engineer" who said they were waiting for parts. Rang again & again the following week, no phone pickup. Their website job status update page didn't work. They didn't reply to my job update email requests.

Eventually I got my brother (who lives nearby) to call in and collect the pump from them by which time they had installed a refurb kit (which I paid for) but the pump still didn't work.

In the meantime I had contacted a company called Myton Automotive (specialists in Jaguar Land Rover parts). They answered the phone, had a good website, and answered my emails. They sourced a refurbed pump with a 2 year guarantee and offered me a refund from the price when I sent the old pump in. They asked me for photos so that they could guarantee unit compatibility. They shipped when they promised and followed through to check my satisfaction.

I have no association with Myton Automotive but I'm happy to recommend them. They are now helping me source a brake servo (see my posting on V8 250 brake servo) at good price & availability.
Best wishes, Dave B

Petelang
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Re: Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by Petelang »

Glad it all went back together well. The hoses are quite difficult to get a good purchase on and I found leakage after a while. I did however manage to replace mine without removing the reservoir completely and get to that "difficult" bolt without resorting to rocker cover removal but, that said, my hands and arms took a week to recover from the various injuries sustained.
Is the steering all now OK? I have often pondered on the pressure setting of the system but have not the equipment to check it.
Peter
Peter Langridge
Cloud Nine Classic Weddings, Nottingham.

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captain bobo
Posts: 268
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:32 pm
Location: Kimbolton, Cambs

Re: Removal of V8 250 power steering pump

Post by captain bobo »

Hi Pete, long time no exchange messages!

Yes, the high pressure hose in particular is difficult to tighten where the metal pipe joins the rubber section but I managed to jam one spanner against part of the subframe and tighten the other using my weight to pull down.

I had the front jacked up so high that I needed to remove the rocker cover to give my elbow enough space to bend my arm. In hindsight I could have left the reservoir in place - but appreciated the extra room it gave me.

I understand that the V8 2.5 saloons used an 800 psi Hobourn Eaton pump & the V8 250 saloons used a 1000 psi version of the pump. I had no way of measuring the pressure but paid to have my replacement pump tested - it generated 980 psi before the pressure relief valve kicked in: good enough for me! What surprises me is the fact that the joints in the high pressure supply line don't weep or leak given the relative coarseness of the thread,

The old pump had obviously been gradually decaying in efficiency judging by how much stronger the power support is with the replacement.
Best wishes, Dave B

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