New Rack - Issues (Air/Shake/O-Rings)

[Flye]

1996 Explorer XLT, 4.0L OHV

NEW Steering Rack

Several issues/Questions:

-Filled Pump tank, Idling, all seemed fine
-Wheels off, Exp on Jackstands
-Slightest turn on the steering wheel leads to "Violent Shake" (and that may actually be an understatement in this case)
-With motor off, and turn on steering wheel, if you turn with any real vigor, the wheel is very hard to turn. If you back off and just slowly turn it, you can slowly work it back and forth. turn too quickly and it gets 'hard'.
-Some searches indicate 'air in system'. (Some suggestions in other posts were 'take it around block, working steering wheel back and forth'. That ain't going to work with this level of spin/shake.)

1) Any suggestions on how to get air out? Driving is out of question. Any 'best practices' on using a 'mighty vac' arrangement and best way to get a good seal on the pump cap?) I've seen 'get a rubber plug' and put barb through it....

2) Can anyone explain the O-rings (white teflon, black rubber) on where they go? I'm not sure the ones that came with the rack were specific and there was only one 'larger' one. Where do the small black rubber O-rings go? I found No black rubber O-rings on the old rack. The white teflon/nylon (white) looking O-rings seemed to have been on threads? Are they only for thread seal?

I'm seeing 0 leaks, so I'm not certain the air/shake is related to the O ring thing or just 'air in system', but might as well have it right.... A BBB video states the return line is on vacuum, so perhaps I'm sucking air on the return line fitting?

Is there something that might be wrong that I'm overlooking?

Again, suggestions of 'just turn it lock to lock a few times' is not going to work. The split moment you touch the steering wheel, it goes into a violent back and forth shake.

Thank you for any assistance.

 

[Turdle]

Input pressure valve from old unit needs placed into new unit. That's where the unused rings go

 

[donalds]

If this helps

 

[Flye]

Thanks. Valve is in and positioned per the diagram. I had also used that diagram above. Unless I'm just blindly missing, that doesn't show where the O-rings go, between what and what? Black O-ring on 'top' of the check valve, between check valve and Pressure hose? Other? The old one (that was taken off) seemed to show the white one as a 'thread sealer' on the pressure and return fittings and I never saw a black/rubber one.

 

[Pete Deering]

1996 Explorer XLT, 4.0L OHV

NEW Steering Rack

Several issues/Questions:

-Filled Pump tank, Idling, all seemed fine
-Wheels off, Exp on Jackstands
-Slightest turn on the steering wheel leads to "Violent Shake" (and that may actually be an understatement in this case)
-With motor off, and turn on steering wheel, if you turn with any real vigor, the wheel is very hard to turn. If you back off and just slowly turn it, you can slowly work it back and forth. turn too quickly and it gets 'hard'.
-Some searches indicate 'air in system'. (Some suggestions in other posts were 'take it around block, working steering wheel back and forth'. That ain't going to work with this level of spin/shake.)
1) Any suggestions on how to get air out? Driving is out of question. Any 'best practices' on using a 'mighty vac' arrangement and best way to get a good seal on the pump cap?) I've seen 'get a rubber plug' and put barb through it....
2) Can anyone explain the O-rings (white teflon, black rubber) on where they go? I'm not sure the ones that came with the rack were specific and there was only one 'larger' one. Where do the small black rubber O-rings go? I found No black rubber O-rings on the old rack. The white teflon/nylon (white) looking O-rings seemed to have been on threads? Are they only for thread seal?
I'm seeing 0 leaks, so I'm not certain the air/shake is related to the O ring thing or just 'air in system', but might as well have it right.... A BBB video states the return line is on vacuum, so perhaps I'm sucking air on the return line fitting?
Is there something that might be wrong that I'm overlooking?
Again, suggestions of 'just turn it lock to lock a few times' is not going to work. The split moment you touch the steering wheel, it goes into a violent back and forth shake.

1. Hopefully you transfer the check valve from your old unit too the new unit. Its held in place by a locking washer.
2. I uses a vacuum bleed adapter. Insert it in the reservoir and a hand vacuum pump. Works great.
3.you can lift the front up in the air. Start engine turn wheel back and forth . lock to lock. Without the engine running ,you are adding air in.
4. The o-rings go on the high pressure tube fittings.

 

[410Fortune]

As Pete said, anytime you install a new rack you must
Bleed the system
Jack under front end both tires in the air
Engine running fluid at level start turning wheel Lock to lock slowly

Adjust level
Continue until all air is out the pump stops whining and that violent shaking is over

If you do this process too quickly
You can foam Up the fluid or “aerate” it… once that happens (it Looks like pink foam) you have to let it settle for quite a while… you will not be able to Bleed the system or stop the shaking of the fluid was aerated…. In that case shut it off let it sit for quite a bit. Then try again

 

[fast_dave]

@Flye

See attached link:
https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/threads/how-to-easily-remove-air-from-your-power-steering-pump-steering-rack.360751/

In short - go to hardware store and obtain a rubber stopper that will fit into p/s reservoir (i.e. won't get sucked in!).

Drill a hole through it and install a brass barb.

With a hand operated vacuum pump, pull 10 - 12 of vacuum.

Explorer wheels on the ground, start engine, have someone turn steering wheel L/R as you pull a 10-12 vacuum.

After a few lock to lock movements, stop engine, check reservoir fluid level. You will see air bubbles pulled up to the top of the reservoir.

Good luck - sometimes this will take a few times to hit perfection. Lots of places air can hide!