2004 Dakota, 2WD, 188k miles.

Should I replace my leaking, noisy, slightly grinding power steering pump? I added some Lucas stop leak which all but killed the leak and has helped a lot with the noise and grinding. I'm wondering if it's likely to grenade soon and cause further damage to the steering system or if I can get away with waiting a while to replace it.

 

I would be replacing it before it left you on the side of the road somewhere. You KNOW it's gonna happen..... Spend the money. Thoroughly flush the system before actually running it though. Get as much of the old fluid out as you can.

 

Yeah, I'd put it on your to-do list, a planned repair is preferable to an emergency repair.

 

I'd replace it, but with one from a u-pull-it. Lately there is so much crap when it comes to parts that I find used original of much better quality most of the time. For major mechanical parts, I usually pull from hit vehicles, so i know it was running at the time of its demise. Being much cheaper helps a lot too.

 

I agree , replacing with another OEM at pull a part w low miles vs new cheap parts on certain replacements is far better ..with the sensors especially!

 

Perfect example.... I was replacing parts store alternators every few years, till I pulled this Denso unit from a Dak back in 2020. This alternator is still soldiering on today.