When I tried using the power steering, it needed to be topped off every two
or three days. It didn't have a belt or even a pulley when I bought it.
Spent good money on those only to remove the belt after a week or so.

> From: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
> Organization: Dana's Mobile Carpet Steam
> Reply-To: Dana Morphew <kadm@PUGETSOUND.NET>
> Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 07:54:26 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Power Steering Used as Manual Steering
>
> Since your system is sealed, maybe just having the system bled and full
> of fluid has kept the steering gear lubed.
>
> -Dana-
>
>>
>> I have been driving my '85 Westy for 4 years with the belt off the power
>> steering pump. In those 4 years I have put about 30,000 miles in the van
>> without a problem concerning the steering.
> ...
>
>>> Does anyone have any additional information on this?  Contrary to what Don
>>> was told by his mechanic, I was told be a VW dealership mechanic that there
>>> is no harm in disconnecting the power steering pump.  My 86 GL that has a
>>> leaky rebuilt rack seems to steer and handle fine without power assistance.
>>> This is an important safety issue as i'm sure many of us have had to or are
>>> considering replacing or re-building our leaky power steering racks.
> ...
>
>>> "The shaft gears are completely toast", he said.
>>> "Oh my God, I just got back from SLC yesterday! That's 2000 miles round
>>> trip!"
>>> "You lucky bastard", he said.....
>>> He put the van on a lift and proceeded to show me what happens to the power
>>> steering rack when it doesn't get the required fluids.
>>> See, my van's steering pump was bad when I her. But I drove on it for about
>>> 2 years before having it looked at.
>>>
>>> So, lesson to be learned? Power steering racks sure for power steering.
>>> They
>>> will wear out Very fast if not lubricated properly, and that could cause a
>>> major accident (imagine your bus taking off in it's own direction at
>>> 60+mph!!)
>