Heads-Up** New Reman Power Steering Pump Failure 60X-9XX
 

My old pump (original) was slinging fluid in small amounts all over the right side of the engine bay. I figured it was the front seal leaking on to the pulley. So had my favorite local MB parts shop order me the Maval reman ZF. Installed it without much issue and proceeded to drive across Mt Hood Pass only to have the pump fail in a hard turn uphill at about 3200 RPM. Seemed that the pressure pushed the shaft forward from its seated position either by failure or defect. Damnedest thing I ever saw. No fluid leaks, the seal held up - the shaft was just pushed forward by the hydraulic pressure. The pulley was about 1.5 in from where it was supposed to be. The belt was half-on the AC Comp. pulley just below and half-off. I realigned the belt, and limped back home without making any hard turns.

Walked into the parts shop with the pump in one hand and the shaft in my back pocket. Handed the pump to the counter guy, and said "oh yeah, might want this" and semi-dramatically pulled the shaft out of my back pocket and threw it on the counter. All three of the counter guys were slack-jawed. Moral of the story: be very wary of Maval reman pumps or just rebuild your old one.

that could have cost you some very expensive repairs.

unacceptable

and you should be reimbursed somehow... that really angers me.