Another bad PS pump?!?!

[shadowless127]

Power steering is acting up again the same way it was when my PS pump was dying back in November. I've since had the pump replaced (just the pump, same tank and same pulley) and it's seemed to have returned to the same behavior BUT it only does it like half to 3/4 of the time. Fluid level is fine. The pump was a reman from Advance Auto.

Could a bad tank or bad pulley cause this? I'm going to be really pissed if I have to replace the pump again. I'm starting to feel like the X is becoming a massive money pit the past 6 months and it's starting to get to me.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Since the pump, and rack need to work together to work at all, a failing rack could be causing the pump to fail. One of the kids in my class replaced his power steering pump on his Ranger, and less then a week later it died again, it turns out something inside the rack was not allowing the fluid to pass through easily, and it ruined the pump, he replaced the rack, and pump(again), and it was all good.

 

[ssobel80]

+1 on the rack. I blew 3 ps pumps before I figured that out!! Replaced the rack and everyting works great! Except for the noisy power steering pump. Really is starting to become annoying!

 

[shadowless127]

Awesome -_-

How do you guys feel about used steering racks?

 

[Dave 1955]

Did you by any chance move the steering back and forth with the motor off..as in doing a brake job?

First time I did that on my old 95 the pump was really noisy and the steering was strange.
Thought my rack was toast but found out all I had to do was move it lock to lock a bunch of times and it was fine..must have been air in the system i guess.

 

[obie]

Awesome -_-

How do you guys feel about used steering racks?

Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. Though, a Ford one is about 450, and even a quality Cardone reman is 240 (90 after core, through RockAuto). If you can find one from a low mileage Ex, and install an inline filter, you could probably keep using it for a good long while. Valvoline MaxLife PS fluid helps too.

 

[1996BLKBauer]

Awesome -_-

How do you guys feel about used steering racks?

On some cars it's alright, but on our Explorers, it stinks to change out the rack, I would just get a new one, and do it once.

 

[shadowless127]

Did you by any chance move the steering back and forth with the motor off..as in doing a brake job?

First time I did that on my old 95 the pump was really noisy and the steering was strange.
Thought my rack was toast but found out all I had to do was move it lock to lock a bunch of times and it was fine..must have been air in the system i guess.

No I didn't try that. The strange thing is it can be fine and then all of a sudden while i'm driving it just starts acting up. And it whines like a ***** sometimes at idle and as im accelerating even if I have the wheel straight and am driving straight.

 

[drifte]

Im having issues myself, for the last year my pump has been whining loudly. Finally replaced it last night, and now while trying to bleed it with the truck running, wheels in the air and turning the wheel, the steering wheel will randomly start shaking very violently until I shut off the engine. If this needs a rack, Im just going to scrap it!