Power Steering Pump

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the power steering pump on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 L83 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power steering pump assembly × 1 — ACDelco or GM OEM
• Power steering line O-rings × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Serpentine belt (if worn or damaged) × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• ACDelco Power Steering Fluid — 1.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and set parking brake
2. Allow engine to cool completely if recently driven
3. Disconnect negative battery cable
4. Place drain pan under power steering pump area
5. Photograph or diagram serpentine belt routing
6. Remove engine cover if equipped

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove serpentine belt
   Using a 15mm wrench or serpentine belt tool, rotate the belt tensioner clockwise to release tension. Slide the belt off the power steering pump pulley first, then remove from remaining pulleys. Inspect belt for wear, cracks, or glazing and replace if necessary.
2. 2

   Drain power steering fluid
   Position drain pan directly below power steering pump. Using a turkey baster or fluid transfer pump, remove as much fluid as possible from the power steering reservoir. This minimizes spillage during line removal.
3. 3

   Disconnect power steering pressure line
   Using a line wrench (flare nut wrench), loosen the pressure line fitting at the pump. Be prepared for residual fluid to drain. Once loose, unthread by hand and carefully pull line away from pump. Remove and discard the O-ring from the fitting.
   ⚠Use a line wrench to prevent rounding off the fitting. Standard open-end wrenches may damage the soft brass fittings.
   Torque spec

   Pressure Line Fitting30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Disconnect power steering return line
   Loosen the hose clamp on the return line using a flat-head screwdriver or appropriate tool. Twist and pull the return hose off the pump fitting. Allow remaining fluid to drain into the pan. Plug the hose end with a clean rag to prevent contamination.
   ℹ️The return line is a low-pressure hose connection and does not use an O-ring like the pressure line.
5. 5

   Remove power steering pump pulley
   Using a power steering pulley puller tool, remove the pulley from the pump shaft. Install the puller according to tool instructions, ensuring the jaws grip behind the pulley face. Turn the puller bolt to draw the pulley off the shaft. Do not hammer on the pulley as this will damage the pump bearings.
   ⚠A proper pulley puller is required. Attempting to pry off the pulley will damage the pump and pulley.
6. 6

   Remove pump mounting bolts
   Locate the three power steering pump mounting bolts securing the pump to the engine bracket. Remove all three bolts using the appropriate socket. Note the location and length of each bolt as they may differ.
   ℹ️Support the pump while removing the final bolt to prevent it from falling.
   Torque spec

   Pump Mounting Bolts25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove power steering pump
   Carefully maneuver the pump out of the engine bay. It may be necessary to tilt or rotate the pump to clear surrounding components. Inspect the mounting bracket for damage or cracks. Clean the mounting surfaces on the bracket with a clean rag.
8. 8

   Prepare new power steering pump
   Remove the new pump from packaging and verify it matches the old unit. Install new O-rings on the pressure line fitting, lightly lubricating with clean power steering fluid. If the new pump does not come with a pulley, the old pulley must be installed using a pulley installation tool.
   ⚠Do not install the old O-rings. Always use new O-rings to prevent leaks.
9. 9

   Install power steering pump pulley (if required)
   If the pulley needs to be transferred, use a power steering pulley installation tool. Place the pulley on the pump shaft and install the tool according to instructions. Tighten the tool to press the pulley onto the shaft until it is flush with the end of the shaft. The pulley face should be at the correct depth to align with other pulleys.
   ⚠Do not hammer the pulley onto the shaft. This will damage internal pump components and cause premature failure.
10. 10

    Install new power steering pump
    Position the new pump into the mounting bracket, aligning all three bolt holes. Thread in all three mounting bolts by hand first to ensure proper alignment. Tighten the mounting bolts to specification in a crisscross pattern.
    Torque spec

    Pump Mounting Bolts25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect power steering lines
    Install the pressure line to the pump, ensuring the new O-ring is properly seated. Thread the fitting by hand until it seats, then tighten to specification using a line wrench. Slide the return hose onto the pump fitting until fully seated, then secure with the hose clamp.
    Torque spec

    Pressure Line Fitting30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reinstall serpentine belt
    Route the serpentine belt according to the diagram or your reference photo. Ensure the belt is properly seated in all pulley grooves. Rotate the tensioner clockwise and slip the belt onto the final pulley (typically the tensioner pulley). Release tensioner slowly and verify belt alignment on all pulleys.
13. 13

    Fill power steering system
    Fill the power steering reservoir to the COLD MAX line with ACDelco Power Steering Fluid. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock 3-4 times while idling. Check fluid level and add as necessary. Continue until no air bubbles are visible in the reservoir and fluid level stabilizes.
    ⚠Do not hold the steering wheel at full lock for more than 5 seconds to avoid damaging the pump.
14. 14

    Bleed power steering system
    With engine running at idle, continue turning steering wheel slowly from lock to lock until steering feels smooth and no whining noise is present. Check for leaks at all connection points. Top off reservoir to the HOT MAX line. Allow engine to run for 2-3 minutes, then recheck fluid level and inspect for leaks.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall engine cover if equipped
2. Reconnect negative battery cable
3. Verify serpentine belt is properly aligned on all pulleys
4. Clean up any spilled power steering fluid from engine bay and surrounding areas

Verification

• Check power steering fluid level is at HOT MAX line with engine warm
• Start engine and verify no unusual noises from power steering pump
• Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock and verify smooth operation with no binding or noise
• Inspect all connections for leaks with engine running
• Test drive vehicle and verify normal power steering assist at various speeds
• Recheck fluid level after test drive and top off if necessary

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