Hey guys been noticing lately that my engine has started sounding alot louder than usual, sounded like there was a dry bearing somewhere but i couldnt figure out where after looking round for a while im pretty certain its the power steering pump making the noise also at the same time there seems to bit like a thuding sound from the pump.
Does anyone know roughly how much this would be to replace and also how hard it would be to replace as i cant afford a new car just yet!

the pump is the same as a volvo 440 pump so you should be able to get a new one.

however, is the power steerings function still proper?, or is it slowly starting to steer like a car without power steering?

you can grease the pulley bearing a bit, will get you rid off the noise but it's only sufficiant if the power steering is still working properly.

you could check the power steering pump's pressure and see if it still meets factory settings.

I think its mainly the noise its making thats worrying me the actual steering function still seems to be ok might not be quite as good as a new car would be however still alot better than a car without PAS how would i go abouts testing the pressure and finding out the required pressure for it? otherwise would just greasing the pully be sufficent, is there a greasing point or would it just be a case of squirting some wd40 onto it?

CHEERS

Just squirt WD-40 onto the pulley bearing where it goes into the PAS pump casing. Not on the pulley itself. Is the belt worn? they can get a bit whirry as they wear.

Also would be worth doing a fluid change on the system I bet its never been done. Fairly easy to do, jack the front of the car up and loosen one of the pipes that goes to the PAS rack. Let all the fluid come out and then tighten back up again. Then refill and bleed the system by leaving the car jacked up, and starting the car up. Turn the steering right and left slowly 10 or so times, holding it for 1 second or so at a fairly hard lock to make the pump work harder. and then re-check the level.

I'd be more inclined to use 3-in-1 oil, WD-40 tends to wash off too easily.

Cool will have to have a good look on unday me next day off hopefully itll just be an easy fix as at the moment i got that usual money problem as in, lack of! lol also suppose to be going for a 400 mile round trip to cambridge at the beginning of august so dont really want me steering going while on the motorway