any experience with ULTRA-POWER power steering pumps

[LMHmedchem]

Hello,

I am replacing the power steering pump on my 2002 XLT v8.

I was going to use an ACDelco remanufactured,

ACDELCO 36P1578 Remanufactured Power Steering Pump With Pulley ($285)

For some reason, these are now absurdly expensive at RockAuto. They used to be about $85 +core. Even the remanufactured MotorCraft is only $145, but with no pulley. I would like to get one with a pulley since I have read that they are a pain to get on and off.

I am now looking at this one,

ULTRA-POWER 20290P1 Power Steering Pump With Pulley ($84)

but I have never used Ultra-Power parts before. The other options at RockAuto are BBB and Cardone but I am not thrilled about the prospects of putting on a $40 power steering pump. I could go with the MotorCraft but again, I would like one with the pulley already installed.

I don't have to order from RockAuto. I tried to order an ACDelco pump from another supplier but after I placed the order, I immediately got an email that it was backordered. How can you be so stupid as to accept an order for a part you know you don' have and immediately have to cancel the order?

If anyone has an experience with this I would appreciate some advice.

LMHmedchem

 

[SixBucks]

I can't speak to your 4.6. But, I used to have a 98 Windstar with 3.8. I installed a parts store rebuilt p/s pump and it whined like crazy. I thought that I maybe had trapped air, so I bought an adapter for my Mity-Vac, still no luck. I swapped it out with a new parts store pump and same thing. I did more research and people were saying that with Ford you have to get a Motorcraft reman pump. I put one of those in (which, like you said, really wasn't much more money at all) and it was as quiet as a church mouse.

 

[CDW6212R]

Check your PS pump, the pulley, for four mounting bolts. I think all Explorers have bolt on PS pulleys after the 4.0 OHV went away. Your pulley should bolt on, so you don't need a pump that comes with a pulley, use the old one. It's a five minute easy task.

The OEM pump should be preferred, aftermarket often have minor deficiencies(more effort required or louder etc).

 

[LMHmedchem]

Since there was such a long time waiting for a reply, I went ahead and got the Ultra-Power pump. Of course, the ACDelco pump I was going to get has now returned to a reasonable price, so I guess I should have waited a bit. We are rapidly running out of good weather here and I don't have a garage so I'm anxious to get going.

The Ultra-Power pump I received definitely has a pressed on pulley and not a bolt on. As far as I can see, the pulley on the original pump looks the same. I don't see any bolts. The instruction video I have been going off of,

How to Replace a Power Steering Pump Ford Explorer 2002-2005 V8 4.6L

is for my exact year and engine and the video indicates that the pulley needs to be removed with a pulley removal tool. It also takes 40 to 60 minutes of the entire repair time to remove and replace the pulley. This is what I was trying to avoid.

The Motorcraft part does not include a pulley and the only one I can get from RockAuto is a Dorman, which I wouldn't use unless there was no other choice. This means I would have to carefully remove and re-use the one from the original pump.

I guess I will try the Ultra-Power pump and see how it goes. If it's noisy, I will try something else.

LMHmedchem

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm sorry, I thought I saw it posted you had a 4.0, I didn't see it said it's a 4.6 V8. For the press on pulley you can rent the puller from a local parts store, and return the tool to get the money back. If you do that, check on the time period they let you use it for no cost.