Up to what point is power steering whine normal...

[Calitecas]

Hey, whats up guys....hopefully someone can help me out with this...

I just bought and installed a remanufactured "Cardone" steering pump from orielys, I as well replaced both pressure and return line with new ones. I filled the pump with Mer/Dex ATF Valvoline and bleed the system. I started everything up and the whine is louder then the original pump.

I've read several of the other posts on what type of fluid to use but I'm a little confused on which is better. I went on to the cardone website and found that they reccomend Mer ATF.

I used Mer/Dex ATF would this make a difference in whine?

When I bleed the system I lifted the front end and turned the steering wheel lock to lock refilling while I turned.

Would bleeding by; removing the return line and emptying it in a bottle while refilling the pump, all the while having the truck running make a difference in whine?

So far all fittings are fine, no leak, no lines touching any other part of the truck. Truck drives fine all except that pump whine.

If anyone has any idea on my whine problem please let me know. I'll be at work till late (11Pm California) but when I come back I'll reply to anyone who posted...thanks....tc

 

[4x4junkie]

I would suspect you got a bad pump.
Any air in the system should expel itself after a mile or two of driving, if it doesn't right away (mine always have without issue).

Both of my pumps (trucks) are certainly not silent, but they aren't so noisy as to attract attention to them. I use Type-F ATF in mine (what the Ford manual calls for up through '95 IIRC).

Another trick you can try that would certainly get all the air out is to hook a vacuum pump (such as used for A/C work) the the reservoir and suck all the air out.

 

[Calitecas]

-4x4junkie
thanks for replying
I would say that as it is right now the power steering whine is the most noticable noise out of the engine bay. Before the replacement you could kind of make out the power steering whine from the other noises, but now it stands out.

For the pumps that you use Type-F ATF in you ranger are they original ford pumps or are they replacements...

 

[kimcrwbr1]

You can try using engine vacuum to pull the air out get a spare cap at the bone yard and put a vacuum fitting on it then attach it to engine vacuum and work the wheel stop to stop 10 times you can leave it on for a couple days and also you can put a jar in line to catch any oil so it don`t go in the manifold similar to a bowl filter put two fittings on the lid and pull the vacuum thru it and any oil will drop down in the jar. you can do the same thing just using a hand vac pump but using manifold vac you can leave it there a day or two until the air finds its way out.

 

[4x4junkie]

For the pumps that you use Type-F ATF in you ranger are they original ford pumps or are they replacements...

Original pumps.
Any stock-replacement pump is supposed to be manufactured to OE specifications as well, so you'd still use the same fluid (though it's really not that overly critical. I used Mercon in mine once in an emergency and everything was fine). I think the only reports of issues I've seen come up from improper fluids was when someone put actual "power steering fluid" (usually for import cars) into their system rather than some type of ATF.

 

[Calitecas]

-kimcrwbr1
thanks for the advice on the bleeding technique. Bleeding the entire system again is next on my list on trying things out.

-4x4junkie
thanks for the info. Do you think if I drained the system of the Mer/Dex fluid then refilled and bleed with power steering it would really do that much damage?

 

[bcost882]

up until the point it stops and the belt starts squealing over the seized pully haha

 

[4x4junkie]

Why would you flush it and then put "power steering fluid" in it, when it specifically calls for Type-F ATF?

 

[dave@threat]

I stopped using ATF in my pumps even though it was recomended. For what I use it for Redline powersteering fluid has been absolutly amazing! ATF foams up in my pumps everytime and causes them to fail WAY to fast. I never have that problem with Redline and my pump nice and quiet even after a year of putting the truck though hell. My high pressure line started leaking a couple of weeks ago and she did get super noisy, but after changing the line today she is back to normal.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

i've had great results with adding 1-2oz of BG MGC.. quiets all kinds of P/S noise

 

[Psychopete]

Type-F ATF

Lol, woops, looks like I'll be needing to change out from the Mercon V I put in. Advance Auto's computer told me to use Mercon V, it's a '93 Cougar non-assist re-man pump on a stock Ranger box. Only 700 miles on my setup so far, but steering works great and fluid looks normal..

I would suspect you got a bad pump. (mine always have without issue).

I have had the same experience as you've stated, I've been lucky enough to not have to deal with any special bleeding or purging. Just filled them up and that was it. Even when my Mustang was low and pitched a bitch, filled it up and it was back to normal by the time I got to work.

 

[whocares]

I had an issue with the PS pump on an 02 crown vic. Replaced the pump and hoses, bled it and it still whined. I found that inside the fluid reservoir there is a screen at the bottom that keeps particles of crud from circulating back into the pump.
That screen was clogged heavily with old rubber from the inside of the old hoses that had deteriorated, and was preventing the proper fluid flow causing the whine. I was able to rig up something to attach to the shop vac that would fit down in there and get the majority of it out. That stopped the whine and its been almost 2yrs ago.

 

[Calitecas]

-Thanks everyone for replying......haven't had a moment to log on for a while due to work.....

-since the last post I've been driving the ranger around and the noise had gone down a little but not to the point I think is normal....like before it is still the most noticeable

I had bleed the old fluid out untill the new fluid started coming out, then bleed again buy rotating the wheels lock to lock 30+ times...sill the same.....

-One more thing
One thing I had notice since driving the ranger was that it looks as if my ps steering pulley is vibrating/uneven? Does anyone know if this would some how cause the noise I'm hearing?

-Whocares
How were you able to get all that old deteriorated rubber using the shop-vac....did you empty the pump as much of fluid as possible?, did you take the pump off

Agains thanks everyone for posting.......

 

[whocares]

-Thanks everyone for replying......haven't had a moment to log on for a while due to work.....

-since the last post I've been driving the ranger around and the noise had gone down a little but not to the point I think is normal....like before it is still the most noticeable

I had bleed the old fluid out untill the new fluid started coming out, then bleed again buy rotating the wheels lock to lock 30+ times...sill the same.....

-One more thing
One thing I had notice since driving the ranger was that it looks as if my ps steering pulley is vibrating/uneven? Does anyone know if this would some how cause the noise I'm hearing?

-Whocares
How were you able to get all that old deteriorated rubber using the shop-vac....did you empty the pump as much of fluid as possible?, did you take the pump off

Agains thanks everyone for posting.......

Yes, I emptied the reservoir with an old turkey baster (didnt remove it) and then used an old funnel taped to the end of the shop vac hose to get down in there and get everything out. My screen was really clogged up, I bet half a cup of stuff in there. Drain it and look in there, I bet its full of junk.