HELP!! power steering died in a donut
 

been drivin the car over a month now, swung the rear out real good a number of times but tonight took it to an empty lot for a real donut

did just about a 360, then go to leave the lot and power steering is dead!
it died at some point in the donut, but heard no pop, jerk, crack, nothin

this is a 99 trans am, 65k miles, has quite a few quirks (i got a good deal on it) but i've been very happy with it because it has nothing like this which i would regard as a moderate problem

i'll still be able to commute, but parking will be extremely difficult till i take care of this

so.... what could be potential problems, is this common?
is it something i can take care of myself, and if not, how much might it cost?
since i'm happy with the price i got the car for i didnt mind a new battery and (soon to come) new tires, but if i have to spend more than a couple hundred on this i'd be peeved

I have heard other people having the same problem after doing donuts. Pretty much your power steering pump is toast. I think it was due anyway for a 65K car..

Estimated cost:

$100 for pump.
$100 for labor.

Also It would be a good time to replace the serpentine belt if it has not been replaced in a while..

Richard.

bump
i heard 250 pump and 150 labor on the ls1 board
but also that the pump does in fact cost 100 or so, and i've been poking around the pump to see if i can replace it myself

I just called. It's $39.99 for pump + core charge.. I don't know where people on LS1.com shop :confused: But there getting ripped off. You should ask them..

actually headed over to autozone in just a moment for that very price

hopefully the monday commute will be with power steering!

i asked there but i'll ask here....
what is everybody's opinion on the power steering durability? one guy on ls1.com posted in saying he blew his in a similar manuever, not a donut though, shouldnt have been as bad on steering

any autox'ers blow theirs?
i dont want to be scared to swing around a corner when the urge hits me and blow the pump
is the gm model weak? is what i'm about to get better?

Yeah WEAK...I use a cooler to keep the temps down and fear nothing... sh!t happens

Heat may not be an issue in this(your case) but over reving the pump to failure.

Drive it like you stole it,fix it when it breaks buddy;)

Problem with donuts
 

THEORY

If you've ever turned your steering in the full left or right position and held it at full...you hear the pump groaning,moaning or pump trying to move the steering gear further than it can go and causes the pump to work extra hard trying to do what the Rack&pinion cant its fully extended.
So when doing a donut and holding the wheel full on pressure as far as it will go causing a situation like above paragraph.Combined with the high rpms required to do the donut,pumps the fluid even harder trying to turn more then it can,causing backpresure and failure due to over working the pump.
So if you were to keep doing these donuts or switchbacks try not to hold the wheel at a full extended position(a little less than) and you are more likely not going to have this prob.again :D

Happened to me when trying to do a U turn, warranty covered it. Pump was toast.

i really cant remember if i locked the wheel before rhomping it...

i almost want to say no because it isnt necesary at all, i had plenty of room
dunno though

any word if the pump i just got is any better, or is it just a gm remanufactured