Power steering problem

[some_guy]

About a month back my power steering started to fail out of the blue and eventually broke down. I took it too a power steering mechanic. since then he has replaced

6 x powersteering pumps
2 x power steering racks
2 x sets of pressure hose

The last time was a complete replacement of the whole system, after this i decided for some whacked reason, to turn off my aircon. ( it had been on every other time the power steering failed ) Since switching the aironditioning off the power steering has worked fine.

Does anybody know if a fault in the aircon compressor could cause the power steering to snap 6 psp mainshafts?

p.s The mechanic at the shop said they tested all my bearings the ran on the drive belt and they all worked perfectly

[immortality]

thats nasty. so i guess you replace the AC pump next. somehow the AC pump is creating a LOT of extra load through the serpentine belt that is stuffing up the PS pump. the PS pump runs a white metal bearing system much like the mains/big end bearings in the engine that is oil fed (or in this case PS fluid) from the pump itself.

[Brett_jjj]

Ive seen a faulty AC compressor smash the alternator bearings on a VN.Three alternators later we found the AC compressor occasionally locking up and when it did it would just smash the internals of the alternator.I think this is also why Holden put an idler pulley on later models before and after the AC comp pulley.Cheaper and easier to replace an idler pulley instead of alternators.

[some_guy]

thanks for that, my next move will be to replace the ac compressor.

[hako]

I wouldn't replace the A/C compressor yet - the reason it may be seizing could be external - like a blocked TX valve or a blocked drier or it may have too much gas etc.....if it is indeed the compressor causing the problem which to me just doesn't add up.
Were the pumps and racks all reco or new?....
If the A/C comp was to seize, the belt would scream and smoke and there would be no way you would not notice it.

[Brett_jjj]

A bloke I knew who worked at holden a few years back told me about how there was some service notice about Holden having some problems with early VN's and the AC compressor and alternator,the compressor would lock up,but only for like a second or two,enough to do damage to the Alternator.After hearing this, and as I said before, after 3 alternators,we replaced the AC compressor and it didnt happen again.Then later models had the idler pulleys either side of the AC compressor pulley.I thought that must be why holden had fitted the idler pulleys to the later models.And Im not saying its the same problem,his is a VS,this was VN ,it could be a blocked AC system etc,but the hi/lo pressure switches should cut the compressor off in such a case.You wouldnt think the serpentine belt would snap the power steering pump shaft either,Like what has been happening with "some guy",you would think it would just lock up.Thats why I posted about the VN AC compressor problem I had before.