I recently started rebuilding P/S Pumps due to availability issues and the skyrocketing cost of reman pumps. So far, I have rebuilt 4 or 5 Honda Power Steering Pumps and all of them had internal seals that were rock-hard. I don't know if this is a heat issue or if the Honda P/S fluid has inadequate seal conditions.
However, I rebuilt the P/S Pump in my FIL's Camry last week due to a seeping shaft seal. This was the first Toyota pump I had rebuilt. Aside from the seeping shaft seal, all of the other seals were soft and pliable. This system specified Dexron ATF. I think the FF was used from 0-75k, then Maxlife ATF for 30K, followed by Redline D6 for the last 30K.
Is it possible that ATF does a better job of keeping seals conditioned compared to P/S Fluid?
However, I rebuilt the P/S Pump in my FIL's Camry last week due to a seeping shaft seal. This was the first Toyota pump I had rebuilt. Aside from the seeping shaft seal, all of the other seals were soft and pliable. This system specified Dexron ATF. I think the FF was used from 0-75k, then Maxlife ATF for 30K, followed by Redline D6 for the last 30K.
Is it possible that ATF does a better job of keeping seals conditioned compared to P/S Fluid?