Power steering pump and rack/pinion failure after adding lucas

I serviced my car (1995 Buick Riviera; series 1 3800 supercharged) prior to a long trip and added lucas oil stabilizer to the oil, their transmission additive in the transmission service and their power steering additive to a slightly low but perfectly functioning power steering system. I noticed an instant tightness in the steering at low rpms.My trip was long intervals of 350 miles on straight highway so I missed the severity of the issue. When I finally got my car in I could barely turn the steering wheel and was told I needed a new power steering pump and rack and pinion to the tune of over $1000. I had expected to need a ps flush...maybe a pump and can't afford $750 in parts right now. I hoped the local kid at the midas lacked in riviera knowledge and wanted to seek a second opinion. I could hear the pump whining and my car only has around 70,000 miles.
I go to drive away and can't turn the key which prompts me to raise and lower the tilt steering. The whole steering column falls limp and I can see the alloy of the steering column snapped on the left side. My steering now appears loose other than the whole column itself seeming like it is going to break. Am I going to be able to fix this on a college student budget?

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t6471-faq-steering-column-slop-problems-replacement?highlight=steering+wheel

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t4631-faq-power-steering-pump-hoses-noise-problems?highlight=steering+wheel

Have you taken a read through those yet?

Thanks Matt. I was wondering if these are separate issues. If I have a ps pump out, as well as needing a rack and pinion. I saw one where the guy welded the column where mine had broke. If I have to get a used column, a ps pump and a new rack and pinion she may be in the garage for a year or two. What a shame.

premature jack wrote:

Thanks Matt. I was wondering if these are separate issues. If I have a ps pump out, as well as needing a rack and pinion. I saw one where the guy welded the column where mine had broke. If I have to get a used column, a ps pump and a new rack and pinion she may be in the garage for a year or two. What a shame.

I don't understand why you need a pump, AND a rack. That doesn't make sense. The only reason you would need a rack, AND a pump, is if the rack was puking fluid, ran the fluid extremely low, and in turn burned up the pump. That's really the only way you'd need both.

As for the column....find one in a junk yard complete and just swap everything over, or have someone weld it like you've seen. Your column breaking like that is EXTREMELY rare. The pins wearing out however is an EXTREMELY common problem.

Why did you put Lucas in the system?

Once you resolve the steering column issue, I would try just flushing the PS fluid and using good clean fluid. Why did you put Lucas anything in anywhere in there? Change your transmission fluid soon please. There's nothing as good as clean fresh plain old trans fluid for you transmission.

premature jack wrote:

I serviced my car (1995 Buick Riviera; series 1 3800 supercharged) prior to a long trip and added lucas oil stabilizer to the oil, their transmission additive in the transmission service and their power steering additive to a slightly low but perfectly functioning power steering system. I noticed an instant tightness in the steering at low rpms.My trip was long intervals of 350 miles on straight highway so I missed the severity of the issue. When I finally got my car in I could barely turn the steering wheel and was told I needed a new power steering pump and rack and pinion to the tune of over $1000. I had expected to need a ps flush...maybe a pump and can't afford $750 in parts right now. I hoped the local kid at the midas lacked in riviera knowledge and wanted to seek a second opinion. I could hear the pump whining and my car only has around 70,000 miles.
I go to drive away and can't turn the key which prompts me to raise and lower the tilt steering. The whole steering column falls limp and I can see the alloy of the steering column snapped on the left side. My steering now appears loose other than the whole column itself seeming like it is going to break. Am I going to be able to fix this on a college student budget?

Probably not, unless you have (a) the cash to pay the parts and labor (b) the day or two, the parts, and the tools it will take to do it yourself.

I can see how you got into this hole. The problem with adding any additive to vehicle fluids is that there is not really any "mechanic in the can" to reverse the wear and tear, damage or design flaw that led to the problem in the first place. You probably did not factor for that, and I think I understand.

Albertj

Abaddon makes a good point: power steering issues shouldn't cause rack failure, but it's possible the bad rack caused the power steering pump to fail. Adding Lucas to the PS pump likely had nothing to do with anything.

About 100k miles ago, I found my PS pump was low on fluid. I added a little Lucas PS additive/fluid to bring it up to level, and haven't had a problem since. I normally don't use additives, but in that case I did the research and it seemed like the right move. In the case of an internal PS leak, the Lucas product can help seals expand, stopping the leaks.

Lucas won't always fix the problem, but it shouldn't cause problems, either, so long as it's used correctly.

I also agree with albertj that a problem existed before you added the Lucas.

It looks like I'm catching a little grief for putting the lucas in...everything was fine I just figured it might help the seals in the lon run. The car sat for about 3 years before I had it since the owner was unable to drive.
It seems the general consensus is to take the lucas out of the tranny as well if there was no problem. I have had good experience with the stuff on my higher mileage vehicles. Its has taken away ticks, softened shifting noticeably etc.
I will seek out a new (used) steering column looks like I can find one pulled for about $80. It does say blue which is not the color of my vehicle. Is there a part that shows other than the covers that would cause me to need a beige one? I want to keep my car since I really serviced her good; new coupler on the supercharger. Etc

I don't think there is a color for steering columns. The clam shell covering the upper column is removable so you would just use yours.

The flak was mainly from me so I'll clarify a bit. I'm not a big fan of additives unless you have a specific problem you are trying to hide (which I don't like either). These transmissions are very sensitive to ... anything besides clean fluid. The only additive I like is a good injector cleaner in the gas tank every now and then (once an oil change or so), and only from a quality source. Lucas and Techron are the two I would consider using. I don't like Lucas because they push it so hard at the counter at a lot of stores, so I figure it must be total snake oil

Otherwise, drain and fill... drain and fill!

I have been using Lucas Oil Treatment and Lucas Octane Booster for years. Those are the only 2 things I would add to my car. Anything you add to a transmission or P/S system is only going to delay the inevitable IMO. P/S and transmissions are quite alike, (aside from the 9 million parts that a tranny has), and both require clean fluid. When the fluid becomes anything but clean, or the viscosity is changed, you're adding more wear and tear to the entire system, and more importantly, more fluid pressure. I've tried various "additives" over the years, most of which all ended badly, or never "worked as intended" in the first place. The worst stuff IMO is anything "Stop Leak". Yes, it swells up seals and makes them softer to stop a leak. Although, if the seals are old and brittle enough, or leaking too much already (needing replacement), it'll only make the leak worse.

BG fluids are amazing btw. I don't think the normal consumer can purchase them, but we have all of their machines. Fuel Injection/Intake, Trans, Brake Fluid. We recently laughed away their P/S "flush" machine that they tried to sell us on. Everyone in the shop thought it was stupid. I can accomplish what their fancy machine can do with a plastic "T" and some rubber hose. That, and we don't recommend putting ANYTHING in the P/S system besides the proper fluid....or convert it over to Dex VI. That shit is awesome. I think I'll start putting it in my cereal