I recently completed an overhaul on my 190e 16vlv which included a power steering fluid flush/pump rebuild. Approximately 100 miles afterwards, the power steering decided to give out and the pump has started cavitating. Sometimes though, usually at or very close to idle, the power steering will work just fine for a short period of time then go out again. Has anyone seen anything like this before?

If you had the impellers out?? there is a possibility that some of them may be installed incorrectly. Also depending on the Brand of the pump (ZF or Luk-Vickers) the oil distribution cavity could be installed back wards as well.

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I thought i may have installed something backwards. I'll take it apart again this weekend and have a look. It's a Vickers pump, do you know which side of the oil distribution cavity is supposed to be facing forward, the one with or without stamped numbers? Thanks.