Replacing the snubber ring is pretty routine, the difficult part is getting to it and the cost of the special tools. If you had not replaced it I would have said that was your likely problem. Now you just need to check that it is on correctly and not off center. Even though you saw shavings I am hoping it is still ok since it is new.
The corn starch is pretty important, it is a dry lubricant (the snubber gets oily and you have problems) and in fact that is what is put on at the factory.
Let's just hope the pump gets things going correctly.
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