power steering pump is loud

[dalefanatic38]

i have a 99 xls 4.0 ohv. when i bought it the power steering pump was loud so i bought a new one and put it on. it is still louder than hell :fire: . this is the first ford i have ever owned, is this normal. my chevys and dodges were never that loud. any ideas had be helpful . i bleed the pump just like the destuction say.

 

[Blee1099]

Yeah Ford power steering pumps can be loud..

 

[general x]

Last time i checked, ford is famous for loud flipping pumps, Mine is loud my moms ranger is loud the old truck is loud....i think its normal

 

[F14CRAZY]

Yup, basically all Fords have the moaning power steering pump. I wondered if not changing the oil in it has anything to do with it. I say this cuz most people don't, so after years it turns from red to gray, or just black.

 

[general x]

.....its not supposed to be black???

 

[F14CRAZY]

.....its not supposed to be black???

I didn't say it was supposed to be! Black indicates bad oil. Is it good when someone finds their transmission oil a color other than red?

I've worked a lot on antique farm equipment with my dad. When we get another tractor and you pull the transmission plug and you think it's empty for a few seconds, it's bad oil. Ten it starts to ooze out. I flush em out with diesel fuel, but that's another story.

 

[general x]

LOL, My grammer or somthing is screwed up because i cant word anything i want to say, basically my power steering fluid is black and i was saying "Um its not supposed to be black?" LOL i better go see what my report card mark in english was

 

[Doug]

Try some Lucas Power steering additive. I put some in my truck and it really helped smooth out the steering and got rid of alot of the whine.

 

[truckguy]

I've always used ATF in my pumps and they have always been quiet.

 

[F14CRAZY]

I've always used ATF in my pumps and they have always been quiet.

ATF is supposed to be used. If I remember right, first gens use type F and everything else uses Mercon.

 

[aldive]

When I switched to full synthetic PS fluid, the sound dropped to almost nothing.

 

[Expodriver]

I drained my power steering system as much as i could (unhooked line off of cooler and let it drain, used turkey baster to empty pump). I refilled it with a bottle of Lucas steering additive and topped it off with synthetic power steering fluid. Be sure to purge air out of system by turning wheels lock to lock. Noise is minimal now, much quieter. Now if I could find the time to clean my IAC.................................

 

[Brandon1993Sport]

Hah I was worried about what that damn noise was, I'm glad it's just this. It sounds exactly like a loud pump now that I read this. Time to add a PS fluid change to my 5-page list of things to do .

 

[F14CRAZY]

When I first bought my truck (last year) I used the turkey baster to remove what I could and filled it with new fluid. I did this once a day for about a week. You do waste some new fluid, but the resevoir is tiny anyway. I then got it back to red (discussed in a previous post) and I suck it out every time I change oil.

I haven't bothered with my XL. At the rate it leaks everyday, the oil is spotless

My brother has a beat up Econoline that leaks a ton, and he's just been dumping used Mobil 1 from his Mustang in it

 

[dalefanatic38]

thanks for the ideas. i bought some lucas today. so i will let you guys know if it helps.

 

[dalefanatic38]

i put the lucas in today with syn fluid. it helped alot. thanks for the ideas.

 

[410Fortune]

Dont worry the whine will be back. When it gets hot it will whine.
Your best bet is to:
Add a power steering pump cooler
and
flush the fluid often.

I use Valvoline synth power steering fluid, new box, new lines, new pump.
About every 3 months or so I use the hand pump method and swap the fluid with new clean, if you do this 3 or 4 days in a row you can get all the brown crap out.

But yes the whine is normal.
Only the new generation of Ford engines do not have the whining pump, anything from 80-2000 will whine, especially trucks, V6 and V8's

Thats how I can tell if a Ford is coming up behind me in a parking lot or whatever...
Lucas is just a band aid, believe me I tried every addative made. The whine will come back once it gets hot and the fluid gets burned/dirty

 

[Infragate]

Since we are on the topic, i have play in my steering gear and was wondering if these steering boxes are known to go bad in most cases? I have adjusted the mesh load but it seems it is not that part of the box that is worn. Seems like it is the ballscrew part that may be worn. Does anyone have any experience with this. I have taken one apart before and they are pretty basic idea but i am unsure whether or not there is suppose to be any play on the input shaft end. Also, is there some type of hydraulic valve in these units? I never took it apart that far to see if there was. I am assuming there is, and thinking maybe this was a problem with these units as well. Any info would be appreciated guys. thanks.

 

[410Fortune]

It is not uncommon for a 91 Explorer to need a rebuilt steering box, thats for sure.
Are you sure the play is in the box, and not in the tie rods?
I have seen the splined input shaft get worn as well, but thats easily spotted.
Best bet is to just go buy a rebuilt box, or get the rebuild kit and do it your self.
I paid $10 for a junker box, took it in as my core, and walked out with a rebuilt unit for about $120, Swap takes about an hour, including bleeding....

Now about the box internals, I have no idea

 

[00XLS]

so some lucas and syth fluid will quiet the pump down a little huh ? mines driving nuts....