When it comes to enhancing your vehicle’s steering, especially for off-road adventures or larger tires, the Power Steering Pump plays a crucial role. Upgrading this component can significantly improve steering feel and performance. This article delves into an experience with a WJ power steering pump upgrade, comparing it to a PSC pump, and highlighting key learnings for anyone considering a similar modification.
Initially, the potential of the WJ pump was impressive, provided you could find a reliable unit. Exploring junkyard options or rebuilding one seemed viable paths before opting for a remanufactured pump. The goal was to assess its performance, particularly with larger tires, possibly in conjunction with an under-drive pulley and a Durango steering box.
However, challenges arose with A1 Cardone pumps. The first pump, installed without altering the high-pressure fitting, worked adequately but generated noticeable noise above 2500 rpm. This led to a warranty replacement.
The second A1 Cardone pump installation involved boring out the high-pressure port, replacing lines, adding a cooler, and using Royal Purple power steering fluid. Unfortunately, this pump was immediately louder than the first, even at idle. After a short drive, air was bled from the lines, but the noise persisted. Upon inspection, the fluid was found to be sparkly, contaminated with metallic flakes. Flushing the system with two gallons of fresh fluid failed to resolve the noise issue.
To ensure reliable performance, a switch was made to a PSC power steering pump. Installation included an inline magnetic filter, new pulley, new reservoir, more Royal Purple fluid, and priming the pump with Lucas power steering treatment. The PSC pump delivered excellent results, operating quietly and as expected.
Reflecting on the pumps’ performance, the PSC pump was preferred for its smoother feel. The WJ pump, in comparison, felt overly light and somewhat twitchy with stock tires, suggesting it might be too powerful for such setups. However, during mild off-road driving with the WJ pump, steering was remarkably light and easy, indicating its suitability for vehicles with larger tires.
Direct comparison revealed a noticeable power difference. The WJ pump, after modifying the XJ high-pressure fitting to match, seemed significantly more powerful than the PSC pump, which felt comparable to the unmodified WJ pump. Revisiting the WJ pump modification for another vehicle is planned to further explore its capabilities.
Through this experience, several insights regarding the WJ pump emerged. Using the smaller return fitting on the reservoir might contribute to noise, as observed in some reports. Employing larger lines for both pressure and return, along with a larger gearbox, could potentially alleviate pressure and optimize performance. While the correlation between the larger high-pressure port and the second pump’s noise is not definitively proven, and the absence of metallic flakes in the first pump remains a question, these observations are crucial for future installations and troubleshooting of power steering pump upgrades.
