Power Steering Issue

[imnotted]

Original Problem
Ok, I've been driving my ex for a while, and when I got my new 45mpg commuter, it sat. I'd drive it once every 1-2 weeks, but on one occasion, I noticed my power steering was acting funny. Over the past months, it has been working at about 20% of it's potential.

What I Did
So I flushed the fluid out of it, guided by the Ford factory service manual. The fluid came out black, and I put in red stuff. I used Multi-Car ATF, as XT-2-QXD is not available at most part stores. I was told it would work, but I don't trust the Auto Zone folk.

New Problem
Now the power steering works, but it studders. It makes me wonder if the month I drove it may have caused the pump to weaken, and now I just need to replace it all together.

Any ideas?

 

[marragtop]

Are you sure you have bled all the air out? Try jacking the front wheels off the ground, start it, and slowly turn the steering wheel hard left, hard right, hard left...etc...

 

[imnotted]

I did that when I flushed it. The pump isn't making any noise (like the typical whine). It's perfect now, except for the weird studder.

 

[imnotted]

UPDATE: The studder is speed-dependent. The more force the pump has to apply to the wheels to move them, the more it studders. It's almost non-existent above 10mph.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check your front end components such as ball joints, linkages, and tie rods. You could try some Lucas for P/S (just a drop, not the entire bottle), and see if it makes a difference.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

if the shudder came AFTER you replaced the fluid - you have air in your system (make sure the top is off)

-Drew