Life of PS units

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: CBR.worm
I've never had a pump failure, a couple rack leaks. What has happened to me on a Mazda 3 and a Ford Escort has having a high pressure line burst - both around 90k. On a '97 Maxima I had a high pressure hose leak that started around 200k.

I currently have a 9 year old G35 and 9 year old FX45, neither of which have had any PS issues. Or any other real issues worth mentioning.


My 1995 Ford Escort at 230K still has all it's original Power steering stuff. If it breaks, I can change it to manual steering.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Fluid maintenance can play a role. Pump in my Roadmaster shrieked like it was going to die in a mile until I converted it to Maxlife.

Hydraulics also don't like heat, in my experience. I like to put in a transmission cooler in the return line to keep things nice and cool under hard running, if a notoriously hot running system, heavy loads, big tires, etc.

 

[artificialist]

Depends on when the car was made. Mom's 85 Maxima needed a P/S rack immediately after the warranty expired. I learned from older guys in the car business that P/S racks were failure prone on most 1980s cars, no matter who built the car.

With dad's 2007 Pontiac G6, the electric power steering failed within warranty the first time (electric assist motor), later the BCM failed and cost $500.

My Saturn ION had some problems with the electric power steering within the warranty period. They had to replace the BCM.

Mom's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee got about 80,000 miles from the P/S pump and about 140,000 miles from the P/S rack.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

Run a quart of the designated fluid through the PS system annually and those system will last as long as you drive the vehicle.