Dear Experts,

I have a 1996 Honda Accord
2.2 VTEC engine
278K miles
Manual 5 speed transmission


Lately, the power steering fluid has needed to be topped up multiple times.

Some research online indicates that potential causes of the leak could be:
Faulty gaskets, O rings
a bad hose
power steering rack


Does anyone have any experience with power steering leaks with this vintage of Accord?

If so, what was the cause of the leak, and the solution?

Thanks

 

Do you have pictures of where the leak is coming from? I suggest you clean up the area where it is leaking and check back in a couple days/weeks and see where the leak is coming from. It is hard to see when you have a bunch of old leaks stain.

Most likely it will be the gaskets. It is fairly "easy" with basic hand tools and if you are able to follow instructions. The PS pump is the almost the same in most Honda. Here is a video that I used to replace the seal in my 99 accord with 190k. Just make sure you buy the right seal for your car and enough PS fluid to drain and fill after you are done.

 

So, in your case, you rebuilt the power steering pump,
adding new seals and orings?

Did you replace the bearing too?

Thanks

 

Yes I replaced all the seals and o rings. I also replaced the bearings as well. When I pulled it out, the bearings seems fine but sooner or later it will fail because the pump is at 190k. Might as well replaced it while I am in there.

Setting the new bearings in was the hardest part is the job because you don't want to damage the new bearings. Just make sure you have some large deep impact sockets and watch the video carefully when setting in the new bearings

Good luck

 

Thanks.

I'm thinking that I might buy a used power steering pump on Ebay.
Rebuild it.
Then, swap the pump.

Idea: save down time.

The other year, I had to remove the fuel injectors and ship
them to be rebuilt, and the car was parked for about 2 weeks.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...ction-3359754/

 

It sucks not having backup to drive. But with the right tool you should be able to do this in half a day on the first try. The 2nd time around you can do this in about 30 min.

Another tool that you will need is a snap ring pliers. I got mine from HF, the Quinn brand, not the Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh one suck.

 

I don't think you'll have much downtime. I rebuilt my power steering pump for the first time this last spring. It probably took me ~4 hrs to complete working slow and careful. I regret not replacing the bearing when I had it apart. If I remember correctly, the bearing has to be removed to replace one of the seals, so you may as well do it then. I also replaced the hoses to the power steering cooler. This was an easy job with the bumper off.

 

Another idea that I had, just buy a remanufactured power steering pump

Cardone has lots of bad reviews
https://www.bbb.org/us/pa/philadelph...196/complaints
...

Maval seems better

Maval Manufacturing, Inc.
https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/twinsburg/...-0272-90022053

Only 1 complaint closed in last 3 years

...

Maval part:

Power Steering Pump - MAVAL - Hydraulic Power - Remanufactured - 96150M
https://mavalgear.com/products/power...p-maval-96150m
Interchange: Honda - 56110-P0A-013
SKU:96150M

- existing seals and bearings are replaced with OEM parts.

...

There is also the power steering pump from NAPA:

Power Steering Pump Without Reservoir - Remanufactured
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/PS_3...pressionRank=1
Part #: PS 385638

...

Does anyone have any experience with either the NAPA or MAVAL power steering pumps?

Thanks again

 

News:

I took the Accord to a shop today.

They put it on a hoist and looked underneath.

Turns out that the power steering rack is leaking badly.
So that is probably the key culprit.

Quote to fix, about $1100. Plus tax.


He had made the quote, using a Cardone aftermarket rack.
I told him that I'd seen bad reviews for Cardone.

Does anyone have any suggestions for another
brand of aftermarket power steering rack?

If I fix it, I want it to last another 250K miles.

Thanks