School me on power steering pumps. Mine went bad.

OK so I have had my car on the road for about 700 miles now. I was driving home last night and the power steering went out. No squealing no tossed belt or anything when it started. I took it out today and the fluid looks and smells burnt and it was hard to turn both ways after a couple of revolutions. I have never had one go out or heard of one doing so. I was using actual power steering fluid from advance auto. Why would one go bad?

I actually have two of them in the basement one with the large pulley and the raised reservoir with the fitting in the back and one with the smaller pulley and reservoir and the fitting on the upper side. Which is better?

Should I flush the fluid from the box and how?

Thanks!

Check this out, it should answer your questions.

Yes I would flush the system.

http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/pspumps.shtml

Jeff