Z32: How to Rebuild Your Power Steering Pump

How to Rebuild the Power Steering Pump on your 300ZX

by: UberBricky a.k.a. Kevin

This is a very simple job to do, for the price of the kit you can’t go wrong rebuilding the pump if it is out and of unknown age. I chose to do it while replacing the alternator and a hose.

1. Remove the power steering pump – I had the chance to do this because of a bad alternator, so I removed the fan/shroud/radiator and of course alternator. Once that was out of the way, take the pump out. Use the holes in the pulley for access to the top bolt needed to get the long bolt out, and I found it easier to just remove the bracket and disassemble the works on the bench.

2. Start the disassembly with the suction pipe on the top using a T40 Torx bit, there are 4 of them along with a bracket that comes off:

3. Now you can remove the pulley. There are numerous ways to do this, have a friend hold the pulley while using an impact etc however I was alone so I put a ratchet through the pulley and used a chain grip to hold it in place, using a 19mm socket:

4. Once the pulley is off, you can see the retainer clip that keeps the shaft from walking out. Although there is a proper set of pliers to get this out, I made due with a set of side cutters as they had the sharpest end to fit in the holes. Ghetto, but it worked fine:

5. Next, remove the (4) 14mm bolts holding everything together:

6. The casing will come apart in 3 pieces, with a small amout of persuasion:

7. I started taking apart from one end to the other, laying everything out as I went to make it easier to put back together:

The shaft and bearing will have to be tapped out, I used a small block of wood and a hammer to get it out. Make sure the teeth on the shaft are in good shape and that the bearing spins freely. The only trouble I had was getting the shaft seal out, until I smartend up and used this:

A normal flat head wouldn’t get to the part of the seal that you can tap out, so I used the little pry bar to get in there, one tap and it was out!

8. Clean everything and replace the way it was taken out. You will drop a couple fins from the vanes, and now is the time to remove the rear vanes to delete the HICAS pressure side and plug the hole with a bolt. I would have just done this, however I had already ordered the hose, so I was hooped… instead I did the pump mod removing the spring and plunger on the back side. Since I will be running Royal Purple ATF, I lightly lube things as I reinstall them. A few pics of the cleaned insides:

There are two wavey washers on the shaft before the front vanes, dont forget them!

9. Replace all O-rings and both gaskets, this is everything I replaced:

Re-assemble the 3 parts, I found it easiest to work from the pulley side to the back, everything should line up without issues.

Link for the kit: 300ZX Power Steering Pump Rebuild Kit

Questions or comments on this article? Here’s the place! 300ZX Power Steering Pump Rebuild Discussion

Hope this helps!