Review on Gates 350390 Power Steering Rebuild by Jose Haskin

This Gates 350390 Power Steering Pump Repair Kit that comes with instructions was the perfect fix for my leaking 20 year old Saginaw pump. However, it should be noted that if damage is discovered during disassembly of the internal hard parts of your pump (except for the shaft sleeve) this kit will not render the pump operational again and you need to replace the pump. After watching some great YouTube videos on how to rebuild this particular type of General Motors pump (which, with some minor modifications and variations, was used in most GM cars and trucks, as well as many Ford and Chrysler vehicles - and even in some imported cars). ---since the early 1960's) I was able to safely remove, disassemble and (after thorough cleaning) replace the o-rings, seals and shaft sleeve and then reassemble the pump. With the exception of a pulley removal and installation tool available to borrow from my local auto parts store (needed to remove and reinstall the pump pulley), the entire job was completed with the regular mechanical tools I had on hand. Perhaps the most difficult part of the job was replacing the shaft sleeve, as it required tapping out the old sleeve and then driving the new sleeve into the pump housing using a 5/8" deep socket (unless someone was lucky). Access to one hydraulic shop press) For a long repair life it is recommended to first replace the two pump hoses (high pressure and return) and flush out the old power steering fluid before rebuilding.The flushing process can be as simple as removing fluid from the pump reservoir using turkey attachments, fill it with new fluid and repeat the process for several days until the engine runs until the fluid is clean and clear.Age, are the main causes of failure of pump seals and o-rings.Overall it was an interesting and worthwhile project , as the now rebuilt pump has improved the feel of my car's power steering a significantly lower price. than a new or "refurbished" pump. I even spray painted the finished pump and it looks brand new! Worth the time and effort!