The 3 Best Power Steering Pump Brands for When Your Car Needs a Change

Have you noticed that your car isn’t responding to your steering wheel like it should be?

Depending on the symptoms and how often it occurs, your vehicle might be in need of a new power steering pump.

If you’re in the market for a new power steering pump, you’re going to want to know the best brands available.

Who makes them, and how many years of experience do they have?

We’re here to help you find the best power steering pump brand and get you back to confident steering in the car once more!

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Why Do I Need a Power Steering Pump?

Without a power steering pump, your car would not respond to your steering directions as well as modern cars do.

For years at a time, this component of your driving system allows you to tell your wheels which way to turn.

Contained in the power steering pump is a reservoir for fluid, operated by gears which provide the necessary flow to all of the steering mechanisms.

This way, your car stays as responsive as possible to your movements on the steering wheel.

What Are Some Types of Power Steering Pumps?

This is an important question to consider when looking for a replacement power steering pump. You’ll be searching among three types of power steering pumps when looking for a new part for your vehicle. Make sure you check your owner’s manual for the correct type of pump to use in your car.

Roller Pumps

Roller power steering pumps take advantage of a centrifuge to grab the steering fluid. This allows the pump to use the pressurized fluid before it goes through the outlets inside the pump.

Slipper Pumps

In a slipper pump, springs are used to help with the addition of pressure during steering. Fluid is released through the use of the springs as well.

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Vane Pumps

Vane pumps are the most common type of power steering pump in motor vehicles. They hold the power steering fluid before using simple pressure to pass the fluid on.

When Should I Replace the Power Steering Pump?

Before replacing the power steering pump, you should make sure that it needs to be replaced. If a simple addition of power steering fluid doesn’t do the trick, you might need to look into a total replacement.

The entire steering pump is made of several components, including the pump itself, a belt, steering gear, and hoses. The gear is responsible for connecting the steering wheel to the stub axles located in the suspension. Upon turning your steering wheel, the pump will send the power steering fluid to the gear applying the pressure to the wheels.

If your pump has begun to leak, the wheel will become more difficult to respond to your turning. You may also spot fluid pooling underneath your car.

If you plan to inspect your power steering pump for a replacement, be sure to look into the belt and hoses while you’re down there. Power steering fluid should be flushed during a replacement, and you can add the specific fluid required by your new pump.

Replacement Steps for Replacing the Pump

First, you need to ensure that you have a faulty power steering pump – there’s no sense taking apart the entire assembly if one part can be salvaged or repaired.

The pump will require a complete removal and replacement, which can be time-consuming on top of the actual cost of the parts.

If necessary, you’ll want to take out all power steering fluid and do a total transplant of new fluid.

During the replacement, the power steering belt, along with the ​pinion and rack system, should be checked for any potential issues. After confirming that you have no further fluid leaks, take your car out for a test drive. Write down any issues you still have if the new power steering pump hasn’t solved your problems.

If you replace the power steering fluid at regular intervals, you can expect your pump to last much longer. Make it a habit along with your​ oil changes and other fluid checks that your car gets every couple of months.

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Reasons to Replace the Power Steering Pump

If you are finding that you have difficulty performing simple turns with your steering wheel, or if you hear a loud grinding noise when turning the wheel, you might be in need of a new power steering pump.

Without this part, the amount of effort needed to turn your wheels is enormous.

Imagine doing all of the physical work accomplished by the power steering pump on your own. While you might gain a lot of upper body strength, your car will thank you for keeping the power steering pump healthy and clean.

Without a functional power steering pump, your system will not be able to send any fluid to the appropriate gear. This makes your steering entirely manual, rendering the electrical component useless. Not only does this become incredibly difficult on a physical level, but it makes you unsafe on the road.

The inability to steer your car is a fundamental reason you should keep your power steering pump health a priority.

How to Choose a Power Steering Pump Brand

We chose our recommendations with safety and reliability in mind. The names on this list have been proven to keep drivers stable on the road. We tested all of these brands on the highway, as well as city driving, to ensure that your replacement power steering pump would keep the same standards as what you expect from your current equipment.

[amazon link=”B0049Z6VDM” title=”ACDelco” /]

[amazon box=”B0049Z6VDM”]

Professionally manufactured within their own plants, ACDelco parts promise to provide the necessary force needed for your vehicle’s power steering system.

When you purchase parts from ACDelco, you’ll receive explicit instructions on how to properly install your new power steering pump. Installation kits come with each ACDelco part, ensuring that you have all the tools needed to fix your power steering system.

AC Delco power steering pumps come with a 24-month warranty that has no limit on mileage. Multiple cleaning and washing parts on the internal areas of the pump help to decrease any internal contamination, giving you a longer life for the power steering pump.

The sealing surfaces have been polished and restored on each power steering pump to make sure the longest life is possible upon installation. You can expect added durability thanks to high-temperature seals, protecting your power steering pump against harsh temperatures.

When necessary, the cam packs are replaced and inspected for any remaining imperfections.

ACDelco is also responsible for manufacturing any original GM parts, making them one of the most trusted names in power steering pumps and other assorted auto parts. Their name is synonymous with quality and you should feel safe getting an ACDelco power steering pump in your vehicle.

[amazon link=”B006PFRBT2″ title=”Cardone” /]

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Getting a power steering pump from CARDONE means you have a massive amount of available parts. They make aftermarket power steering pumps for vehicles that go as far back as 1958, all the way to new vehicles. Their parts are manufactured to prevent any failure issues thatappear in the original manufacturers’ pieces.

CARDONE units are put through a rigorous testing process, ensuring adequate flow, sea, pressure and output. Nothing leaves their facility before being tested to compare it to the performance to a brand-new original part.

The rack and pinion sleeves are installed into a power steering unit with CARDONE’s official bonding process, guaranteeing no possibility of the sleeves coming loose. When necessary, high temperature seals are used with o-rings and grade seals.

A CARDONE power steering unit contains the company’s patented Magna-Pure filtration system. It contains mesh screening filters that protect the steering system and naturally extends the pump life. The magnets contained inside the filtration system also help to make your power steeringpump last longer, along with a bypass that optimizes the performance of the unit.

Despite manufacturing all aftermarket parts, CARDONE’s power steering unit feels like you just went off the lot with a new wheel.

[amazon link=”B01NCBENM5″ title=”Drivestar” /]

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Drivestar Auto Parts conducts their business through Amazon’s marketplace. They are one of the top 100,000 sellers in the United States, specializing in auto parts crafted to resemble their original manufacturers’ models.  

Drivestar’s power steering pump is designed for an incredibly easy installation process. Because it is delivered through Amazon, Drivestar offers free shipping on all of their qualifying parts. Each part specifically lists their matching manufacturer parts in the product listing. This helps you prevent making any mistakes while ordering and needing to return a power steering pump.

Unlike other manufacturers, Drivestar crafts each of their parts new, with no refurbishing. All internal components are designed to meet the same quality standards that you have come to expect from your vehicle’s manufacturer.

The Drivestar power steering pump comes with a one-year warranty that covers all included parts inside the power steering pump. The company offers full support Monday through Saturday on any necessary questions about orders, shipping, and performance.

While the power steering pump from Drivestar works fine, we noticed that it didn’t quite function as well as what we experienced from ACDelco and CARDONE.

If you’re in a pinch and need to get yourself a new power steering pump immediately, Drivestar is reliable for their service and shipping speed. However, we can’t recommend their actual parts when stacked up against the competition.

Choosing a Power Steering Pump for Your Vehicle

Based on our time with these power steering pump manufacturers, we have to choose AC Delco for our recommendation among all three stores. 

Their consistent quality throughout the years is a testament to how reliable a company can and should be when replacing parts inside a vehicle. It’s one thing to refurbish and repair a power steering pump. It’s another to actually craft one from the ground up.

AC Delco proves that they understand the attention to detail required from an aftermarket manufacturer.

By combining their company philosophy of quality manufacturing with an eye for detail and a knack for replicating exactly what is needed in a given model, there is no better choice for choosing a company to manufacture a new power steering pump.

AC Delco would not be the official manufacturer of replacement GM parts without a good reason. Knowing their commitment to excellence with all of their brands should give you the peace of mind you need when ordering from them.

Comparison Table

Monitoring Your Power Steering Pump

We hope that this article has helped you understand the importance in checking and replacing your power steering pump.

The next time you are at an intersection, think about how effortless it is to turn your steering wheel to the next street. Without the proper fluid and parts contained in your power steering pump, the potential for problems is too great to ignore.

While it isn’t necessary to regularly replace the power steering fluid on your own, it’s a good idea to simply keep an eye on the noises your car makes.

Much like any other part of a vehicle, anything out of the ordinary could be a sign of trouble.

There’s no reason to panic with each little bump and bruise on your car, but if something sounds “off,” you shouldn’t let it go.

A faulty power steering pump could be the difference between a new vacation and sitting at home, waiting to find out if your part is available.

In some cases, ordering a new vehicle part could take days or even weeks depending on what the manufacturer has in stock. The sooner you check into your power steering pump, the better the chance you will have of clearing up the issues in time for your schedule.

AC Delco and CARDONE have an extensive inventory that should provide you with the power steering unit you’ll need if your current one bites the dust. Keep tabs on their inventory and make sure you continue to check your steering ability, along with the rest of your vehicle’s health.

Keywords: Power steering pump