Power Steering Pump Repair Costs Explained
A failing Power Steering Pump can cause your steering to become very heavy or even produce a whine. The cost of repair for a faulty Power Steering Pump can vary greatly depending on a few key points.
What You Are Actually Paying For
The majority of the cost is the parts required for the job, and the labour to fit them. As stated previously, labour rates start from £60 per hour and can increase up to £120 per hour for more complex jobs. The Steering Pump repair can typically take around 1-2 hours to complete depending on access and type of pump required.
Hydraulic Versus Electro-Hydraulic Pumps
A standard hydraulic pump suitable for most cars would cost between £80 and £180 for a reconditioned unit. More modern cars such as mid-range to high-end models are often equipped with Electro-hydraulic Steering Pumps. Prices for these can start from around £250 but are likely to be higher for German or American cars and could reach in excess of £500 for some. The type of pump is by far the biggest contributing factor to the overall price of the repair.
New Versus Reconditioned
Most auto parts retailers now offer reconditioned Steering Pumps. In most cases these offer similar or better reliability than a new part and are offered with warranty. As with new parts, make sure that you confirm that the retailer’s quotation is for a new or reconditioned part and confirm the length of the warranty offered.
What Pushes the Bill Higher
Access to the steering pump can be a problem on some makes and models, thus increasing labour time. Some types of pumps require that all of the power steering fluid is to be flushed and replaced with new, which can add up to £30 or £60. In some cases, the pump failure can have also caused a lot of dirt to enter the system. This would require additional work to flush the system, or even to inspect the rack.
Repair Instead of Replacement
In some cases it may be possible to repair the Steering Pump, rather than replacing it. If your vehicle is of an older model then a simple seal replacement or minor rebuild may be required to return the pump to full working order. This would generally cost a lot less than purchasing and fitting a replacement pump.
Get a few quotes for repair of a faulty power steering pump and see where the extra cost is.