power steering fluid reservoir missing lock nut/clip

[sleepstar]

soooo tomorrow i was set to flush out the PS fluid and put in a new filter since i know it hasn't been done in at least the last 5 years. i took the cap off this evening and the fluid is nasty brown. but i dont have any of the lock nuts/clips that are in the DIYs on this sight. it's just a loose spring on the central rod. what is the purpose of the nut that compresses the spring? should i get one ASAP before i do the fluid flush??

[Stretch]

On my power steering pump (vickers type 24) the spring is used to hold the filter in place. The spring is held in place by a clip - well it is a flat piece of metal - that sits awkwardly on the shaft at an angle stopping the spring from coming higher up the shaft.

If you've got a similar pump you might find that bit of metal - mine is slightly triangular in shape - in the bottom of the pump => hopefully on top of the filter. So when you drain the fluid make sure you don't loose it into the pump internals by whipping out the filter too quickly. If you can't find that bit of metal I can make some measurements / take pictures if the part isn't easy to get hold of.

[sleepstar]

yeah i'm missing that clip/piece of metal. maybe i can find something that will work at the hardware store.....