Sure, I got towed home, but this is a chicken or the egg type of problem.

When the truck was new to me a month or so ago, I went through and did all of the filters and noticed a PS fluid leak and slop on the pulley. Come to find out the pump shaft SHOULD float in and out a bit, regardless-- leaking pump gets replaced.

Replacement pumps don't come with thrust washers or installation bolts. Went back to obtain one, got sold a bolt to do the job, went home, buttoned her up.

On the way home, I smell the stink of hot/burning/vaporizing PS Fluid. Oh-oh, hope it's that Chevy next to me. Check level and refill to "hot line", turn to full stop both right and left a few times, re-check level and go. Hear a pah-dank flop,flop,ting set of sounds. I pull over and coast to the nearest roadside tree.

Thank God for a nice shade tree near a Gospel church. Regardless of personal beliefs, it was a lovely way to sit and wait, not in a hot truck and with something to listen to as the clouds rolled by. Could have been a lot worse as I was on the highway and pretty much going straight.

SO......
When the parts man sold the pump and bolt and fluid, he assured me that the gallon of PS Fluid was every bit as good as F-Type ATF for heat, pressure and lubricity. Soon after the pump was installed and I was monitoring regularly, that next day it was not clear, it was cloudy grey-black. (WHAT?) Assured that it was nothing.

Do you think it heated up, volcanoed, locked, sheared the bolt?

What is the likeliest cause of this SNAFU?

I would like to know so that I can avoid it again.

Thank you in advance.

 

Never heard of anything like that happening.
But we have never used power steering fluid either, always use ATF.
Flush it all out, see if they will warranty the pump and use ATF.

 

When you installed the pulley did you use the washer, bolt and nut that came with the pump, or did you use a P/S pulley installer. I only use the proper tool, the bolt bottoms out in the shaft and the pulley never goes on all the way. Rent the installer tool and make sure the pulley is bottomed, even with the pump shaft. I use ATF as well, same stuff.

 

The pump didn't include thrust washer or bolt, used what I had on hand, not spec 8 or better. Own the pulley puller and used it without incident.

 

How long of a bolt will I need for this re-install? The parts store is being good about replacing the pump, belt and pulley. I need to make sure that I am using the right length and all of that goodness. Will buy a mess of sizes at the hardware store in grade 8, but would like to save some time by knowing the correct length of the bunch. Gotta get to work!