I need to the replace the front pump seal on my power steering pump. Is it ok to drive the car with the pump removed? I know it won't be a problem for the engine, but will the lack of pressurized fluid damage the steering gear box?

It should not hurt it, but remember it will be difficult to steer. especially at a stop or low speeds.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Agree with rrg... only difficulity is steering effort.

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83 SD

84 CD

I wonder what increase a person could see mileage-wise if they did away with the P/S pump.....? Not that I would do it, but it'd be interesting to see if it made much difference.


Heck, why not go for a few hundred mile freeway drive with a special sized belt installed that only runs the water pump.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

You'll save just a bit of energy by not running the pump, but it's not working against much of a load while running on the highway. I assume that eventually and partly for this reason, all the automakers will go for electric power steering.

Isn't disabling the power steering just a little bit dangerous?

Most likely.


I could barely turn the wheel once when I turned the engine off while going about 25 mph.... (don't ask...I turned it right back on...)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Depends on how strong you are. The MB steering wheels are humongous so you can get plenty of leverage without the assist. Plus the 14" wheels are pretty light weight, 25 lbs mounted to a tire. With my lil Nardi wheel (2 inches smaller in diamter) it is pretty difficult to steer without PS.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Y Hell, when I was a kid we never had power steering, no hydraulic brakes, "mechanical" they were , drug my foot too stop most of the time, no tops on the cars either, or windows, had to crank it, no starter motors.

Seriously, I wouldn't want to drive very far without the pump.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

If I had the time and $$ I would create an electronicly assisted steering system like what my moms chevy has.. It is going to suck when the suck when the electronics in that system go

My RX-7 has a manual rack. it is not that bad while moving or stopped. i know i know it is 2000 lbs. lighter than most MB diesels. but i would think once you moved the tires back and forth a few times and got most or all or the PS fluid out it should not be that bad. maybe after you took the pump off put the front on stands so there is no weight on the wheel and turn it from lock to lock a few times.

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-Trevor

OBK #12
1980 300SD 333,XXX miles - Totaled
1986 Mazda RX-7 212,XXX miles - impounded and auctioned off
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited 33,000- SEGR, Provent, Fumoto

I once drove a couple of 100 highway miles with no PS belt. It was manageable on the highway, but it was almost impossible to pull in/out of a parking space. My arms were actually sore after a day of driving without a belt. I wouldn't want to have to make any sudden turns to avoid an accident, it's really not safe to drive without PS.

i have done it before too.

i didn't think it was too bad.

but my arms and shoulders are pretty big.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I think the liability issue, along with the obvious safety concerns, outweigh everything else. If an accident were to occur because someone knowingly disabled their power steering, the lawyers would eat them alive, and their insurance company would treat them like they had the plague.

Changing out fanbelts and rebuilding the alternator bracket, I once drove my 240D more than a week without power steering as an experiment. Also drove it without an alternator for awhile but thats another story. You will definitely like the car *better* at road speeds w/manual steering. It's parking and around town slow where it becomes a wrastling match.

And if you see a lawyer on the road then run him over, back up and roll over him again.