01 Taco PS Reservoir "Screen/Filter" Cleaning: Help?

[Wes Craiglow]

Due to an increasingly-loud whine, I ran my Taco by my trusted mechanic to have a new PS pump tossed on it this morning. He tells me it's not the pump, but the reservoir. Says there's a little fine mesh screen near the delivery line which is designed to filter out sludge, etc, and that over the last 170k miles mine has become restricted to the point it no longer allows enough PS fluid to circulate, cavitating the pump. He also says there's no "certain" way to clean this little screen.

Makes sense. So I see a few options:

1. Buy a new resi from Toyo, and for just under $200, I know I'm good to go.

2. Buy a used pump/resi combo from a salvage yard for half that price. Prob there is I'm having trouble finding a product with less than 100k on the truck it's being pulled from.

3. Pull resi and attempt to reverse flush the little screen using clean fluid and air (if I can even get to it), then bolt back on and hope it worked.

4. Cut the screen out, then install a small fuel filter in-line along the PS delivery line.

5. Cut the screen out, flush all fluid clean, then hope for the best for the remainder of the rack/pinion lifespan. (I've actually read in other forums where people have never had bad experience with this method. However, I plan on keeping my truck forever, so I don't know how much I like it.)

Input welcomed, everyone. Thanks!

wes

 

[RU55ELL]

I say get a fitting that fits the reservoir connection with a small opening and connect that to an air source. Push the particles backward out of the reservoir.

 

[obscurotron]

I haven't pulled one apart, but when you say "delivery" line, do you mean the high pressure side of the pump? If so, I would think a fuel filter would not hold up to the pressures of the PS system. If on the return line, then yeah, I'd go with removing the screen and using a filter you can service/maintain.

Due to an increasingly-loud whine, I ran my Taco by my trusted mechanic to have a new PS pump tossed on it this morning. He tells me it's not the pump, but the reservoir. Says there's a little fine mesh screen near the delivery line which is designed to filter out sludge, etc, and that over the last 170k miles mine has become restricted to the point it no longer allows enough PS fluid to circulate, cavitating the pump. He also says there's no "certain" way to clean this little screen.

Makes sense. So I see a few options:

1. Buy a new resi from Toyo, and for just under $200, I know I'm good to go.

2. Buy a used pump/resi combo from a salvage yard for half that price. Prob there is I'm having trouble finding a product with less than 100k on the truck it's being pulled from.

3. Pull resi and attempt to reverse flush the little screen using clean fluid and air (if I can even get to it), then bolt back on and hope it worked.

4. Cut the screen out, then install a small fuel filter in-line along the PS delivery line.

5. Cut the screen out, flush all fluid clean, then hope for the best for the remainder of the rack/pinion lifespan. (I've actually read in other forums where people have never had bad experience with this method. However, I plan on keeping my truck forever, so I don't know how much I like it.)

Input welcomed, everyone. Thanks!

wes

 

[Wes Craiglow]

**BUMP**

(Leaving on a 4000 mile road trip next week, and need to get something done on this... Sorry to be pushy with the bump, but I could really use some advice from the more mechanically-experienced of you. Thanks!)

 

[Wes Craiglow]

I say get a fitting that fits the reservoir connection with a small opening and connect that to an air source. Push the particles backward out of the reservoir.

Great idea, and one which I shared with my mech. When he tried this once before, the pressure tore the screen. Apparently that screen is quite fragile.

I'm not opposed to trying it, though, just with very slight pressure. Thanks!

 

[Wes Craiglow]

I haven't pulled one apart, but when you say "delivery" line, do you mean the high pressure side of the pump? If so, I would think a fuel filter would not hold up to the pressures of the PS system. If on the return line, then yeah, I'd go with removing the screen and using a filter you can service/maintain.

Doesn't matter anyway, as there's not enough length in the line to place a filter. The resi pretty much drops right on top of the pump.

Thanks for the input, though!

 

[mtnbike28]

new and OEM

If you are planning to keep the truck forever and leaving on a 4k trip, spend the $200 and never think about again for 170k miles. Why risk another part on a cheap part? Again this is only if you really plan to drive this truck for a long time....

hth

 

[Wes Craiglow]

If you are planning to keep the truck forever and leaving on a 4k trip, spend the $200 and never think about again for 170k miles. Why risk another part on a cheap part? Again this is only if you really plan to drive this truck for a long time....

hth

Yep, exactly where my better sense has me leaning. Thx.

 

[Mr. Leary]

If you are planning to keep the truck forever and leaving on a 4k trip, spend the $200 and never think about again for 170k miles. Why risk another part on a cheap part? Again this is only if you really plan to drive this truck for a long time....

hth

x2. Pay the money, cry once!

 

[soonenough]

If you are planning to keep the truck forever and leaving on a 4k trip, spend the $200 and never think about again for 170k miles. Why risk another part on a cheap part? Again this is only if you really plan to drive this truck for a long time....

x3, think of the cost in money, time, and frustration if a half-*** fix ends up stranding you on the side of the highway during your 4,000-mile road trip next week. I guarantee you'd be wishing you spent the $200.

Not saying you couldn't figure out something that will work, but you've only got a week to make the change and test it out to see if it will work long-term. Any testing you can do in one week will be insignificant compared to a 4,000-mile trip.

I'm not very familiar with the inner workings of PS pumps, but I know that with the types of pumps I've dealt with in the past (larger centrifugal pumps), cavitation is one of the most common causes of failure. I'd be very cautious about driving 4,000 miles with a cavitating pump, especially in the middle of summer.