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98 park ave power steering removal


98Buick
12-19-2009, 11:41 AM
I have a 98 Buick park ave with the standard 3800 and I am trying to change out the power steering. I have the pump loose but there is a motor mount on the fender well that keeps me from getting it out of the engine compartment. I have taken the motor mount and bracket that the motor mount connects to loose, but cannot remove either one. Can someone please give me some help here? If I have to lift the engine, how do I do that? It is something I have never done before. Thank you.

HotZ28
12-19-2009, 01:49 PM
Put a jack under the oil pan (with a block of wood for support) & jack the engine up. Next, remove the coil/ICM bracket & let it rest on the top of engine. You should then be able to jack, or lift the front of the engine enough to remove the mount bracket and then the PS pump.

98Buick
12-29-2009, 04:27 PM
Sorry it took me so long to get back on this, but I have been very busy.

Thank you for the advice on using the wood block to lift the engine. I did have to do that when bolting the motor mount back to the bracket. For any one else that has this problem, the way to get the power steering pump out is to take it apart while in the engine compartment and to reinstall it you put it back together inside the engine compartment. You can get a tool from Autozone (free if you return it) that will allow you to remove the pulley from the body of the pump.

HotZ28
12-29-2009, 08:08 PM
We appreciate your feedback; however, you should be able to remove the PS pump through the fender-well if the front tire & splash shield are removed first, sorry if I forgot to mention that. Did you try it that way?

98Buick
12-30-2009, 07:29 PM
Yes, I looked into that. The problem was that from the location of the motor mount back to the fire wall is all welded metal, and this is where the power steering pump is located. The plastic removable part is from the front end side of the motor mount to the front part of the fender well. I was actually considering cutting a hole thru the metal, but I'm glad I didn't. More info for anyone attempting this: while taking the pulley off the pump you have to make sure to take the whole assembly lose first because the device you use is too long to fit and it hits the fender well.
I started another thread about some problems that just cropped up, I think as a result of the serpentine belt or the tensioner pulley flying around. I would really appreciate any comments you could give me about these new problems. Thanks, and thanks for taking the time for the help you have already given me.

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