Power steering pump hoses -- WAPITA

thehackmechanic

thehackmechanic

Well-Known Member
Messages
426
Reaction score
99
Location
West Newton, MA
I just reinstalled the power steering pump, after having removed it last week.

What a colossal pain in the a**.

The power steering had been groaning louder and louder. I thought the pump was going bad, so I removed it, thinking I needed to replace it. In order to get the pump out, I needed to cut the short hose, which I didn't think was a big deal because I knew I had a spare length of PS hose in the garage. Also, I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that, after owning this car since 1986, it was only a few years ago that I learned that the PS reservoir doesn't take power steering fluid -- it takes ATF. So in pulling the pump, it was an opportunity to thoroughly drain the system of the mixed PS and ATF that had been in there since forever.

I then looked here on this site and found the links on how groaning is often caused by bubbles getting, and how renewing ancient fluid and changing the filter in the reservoir often solves the problem. Yes, I should've read before I jumped.

So I ordered the filter. Installing it was easy.

But getting the hose and then the pump back in... my god what a pain.

I can't remember where I bought the PS hose, probably Bavarian. But it was very very difficult getting it over the lip on the spigot that comes out the bottom of the reservoir.

Then, I had the same problem getting it on the fitting coming out of the PS pump. I had to unscrew the fitting from the pump, and push the fitting into the end of the hose without the weight of the pump.

Lastly, getting the pump bolted back on was easy, but getting the threaded fitting screwed into the back of the pump was a nightmare; the hose was so stiff that the fitting was at an angle that just wouldn't screw into the pump. I finally had to unbolt the mounting bracket from the pump so I could hold the pump up at a weird angle that allowed the fittings to mate, then put the bracket back on and mount it.

No lessons here other than "read E9coupe before you go yanking stuff out."

Did it fix the problem? Don't know yet. I'll test it out tomorrow.

--Rob
 
Sad story- I left your book by accident on the Jet Blue flight to Austin 2 weeks ago.
It was good reading!
 
Not sad Don, someone will pick it up and learn all life's lessons and possibly find an old 2002 or e9 or e3 and restore it to glory. Why do you think the Gideon's left Bibles in hotel rooms :-). See you next trip!
 
Power Steering Pumps and Lost Books

Regarding the PS pump, just filled the system up (with ATF this time) and it's nice and quiet.

Regarding lost books, you never know; it may find its way back to you. I inscribed one to Ed, the guy who owned the company I worked for for 23 years. When he sold the company, he gave some of us a bonus that, in my case, paid for a good chunk of my garage. So, yeah, I sent him a book with a long personal VERY grateful inscription. When he was done reading the book, he loaned it to a colleague who mailed it back to him in a USPS Priority Mail envelope, and the envelope arrived empty. It was the second time I've had the experience of the books working their way out of these envelopes (I now only mail them with a big swath of tape around the top to keep them closed). His secretary called me telling me what happened, and asking me if I could inscribe another book to him the same way. I had to try and remember what I wrote. I did my best and sent it off to Ed.

Then, a week later, Maurice Iglesias, the sales and marketing guy (and a GREAT guy) from Bentley Publishers called me. "I just got this funny call from the Springfield MA post office. They say they found a Hack Mechanic book on the floor of the stockroom, with an inscription 'To Ed: Thanks for the most satisfying professional years of my life' etc etc. Do you know anything about this?" It was, obviously, the lost book. I now have it back in my possession, and in fact it is the copy I use to read from when I do book release events.

And, Peter, the idea of my books being like bibles in hotel rooms is more lofty than I can wrap my hack mechanic brain around.

Don, you know what? Just PM me here with your physical address and I'll send you another book. Your advice has been very useful to me over the years.

--Rob
 
Sounds like a note in a bottle story- strange and nice things happen out there.
I might take you up on your offer - i hate starting a book and not finishing it.
I'm blaming all of this on the tight accommodations on flights and the flight attendant not reminding us to check the seat pocket upon arrival.
 
76 530i

Dear Rob, I see you have a Bavaria. I am thinking about getting a 76' 530i with a automatic transmission that has 90,000 miles. I think the 530i was the one that replaced the Bavaria and it seems to be much the same. Do you have any insight into how good or bad an idea it is to buy it?

Bill
 
Bill, I had 2 in the 70's, actually my parents did, my younger brother totaled the first one and the next one developed transmission problems right around 90K, I replaced the transmission with an used junkyard box and it had the same problem, probably had the same milage. I had the seats (leather) re-done and I remember the girl who did the seats said they were the worst design she ever worked on. Still, even back then and well into the 80s the car was considered pretty special. IMHO it is much less attractive than the Bavaria though.
 
I decided

Dear Peter,

Thanks for you input. After talking to a mechanic I trust and reading some on line history I decided to pass on it because of the history of the motor heat problems caused by the early emissions equipment. It is also one year inside the line of needing emissions testing in the state of CA.. If I can't pass I'm stuck with a car I can't use and can't sell in many states. It's a beautyful car with a good story bit I will keep looking.
 
Hey, Bill, in the BMW lineage, technically the 5 Series replaced the Neu Klass four-door sedans, and the 7 Series replaced the Bavaria.

530is were great cars to drive when they were new, but were plagued by head cracking problems caused by the thermal reactors -- BMW's emission control mechanism that they used instead of catalytic converters. The 528i that succeeded the 530i had those and other bugs worked out of it. Plus, the 528i's L-Jetronic injection had an oxygen sensor, improving fuel economy. So if you crave an E12, the 528i is really the one to get.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top