Twisted power steering pump

[XenonJohn]

Hi everyone. Just acquired a '65 New Yorker. The power steering pump seems to be working OK but I notice it vibrates on its mount quite a lot on startup and also if you look at the pulley/belt from above it looks as if the pulley is actually at an angle relative to the belt, which would be bad for belt wear presumably.
I've read that you can buy a stronger mount for this pump which suggests that something was wrong with the originals.
If you look at the photos has the mounting
i) actually twisted (nothing obviously broken or missing)?
or
ii) is this what it looks like then the bearings are all shot and I need a rebuild kit?
Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[FURYGT]

Yes, the factory mounting brackets were inadequate and you should get a stronger replacement. If you have a bearing problem I would think that the pump would be noisy.

 

[Davea Lux]

Yes, the factory mounting brackets were inadequate and you should get a stronger replacement. If you have a bearing problem I would think that the pump would be noisy.

Also check the pump mount, there is supposed to be a rubber bushing that helps to keep the mount in alignment, yours has probably failed. It is a snubber between the two halves of the mount.

Dave

 

[413]

The 2 brackets wear at the lower pivot bolt, that’s why it is twisted. The pump is fine.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Nothing wrong with the pump. The brackets are an interesting self-tensioning design that twists over time. Ensure that the bracket has the rubber bumper down in the bottom which will help as well. The bumper is available on eBay. https://www.moparmall.com/Power-Steering-Pump-Snubber-for-1960-1966-MoPar-C-p/801-013_a.htm

Then simply use some longer mounting bolts and some washers between the bracket and pump body and it will line itself up again. See the pics below.

 

[XenonJohn]

Brilliant, thanks, that is really helpful and fits completely with what I am seeing.
Happy New Year.

 

[jct]

This is another option
http://www.chrysler300club.com/rcmstuff/nelsonsteer/nelsonsteer.html

 

[XenonJohn]

Thanks for the link. I can probably fabricate something along those lines this end, and will also buy a replacement rubber piece to go between the two parts.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

This is another option
Gary Nelson Power Steering Bracket Repair

Oh, I like that too!! Thanks for sharing that!

 

[XenonJohn]

I did fix this in the end. Not as straightforward as I thought. There was a crack forming in front part of alloy that upper main mounting bolt goes through. The bolt had actually bent too. In addition as others here have said, the holes around the lower bolt joining the two halves that form a hinge with rubber damper in between, had become oval. I fixed that with a 1/2" longer bolt (4 1/2") and nuts welded each side of the oval holes inside and out with threads drilled out to give a much greater area to take these twisting loads. To take almost all the twisting forces off the top mount where little crack was I welded a tab onto the inner pressed plate just beneath the hinge bolt, which tucks exactly behind the upper half of the engine mount, which someone else seems to have cut away slightly to allow everything to fit. This still allows adjustment to take up slack in the drive belt but absolutely stops whole assembly being pulled round and inward by the belt tension. It did make refitting the whole thing with a belt on it a real pain though. When pump is fitted you cannot see it at all.

 

[Ross Wooldridge]

Cool!!