1994 Ranger 4.0L Auto 4x4 - How to bleed P.S. Pump?

[blbzeckhart]

Complete Engine Swap.
Re-installed same P.S Pump and Reservoir.
Truck runs great. Power steering hard as hell to move while driving.
Manual says turn wheel left to right several hundred times to work out air?
Lifted front end (wheels off ground), put in fluid and while running and cap of reservoir turned back and forth several hundred times.
Bubbles (air) present in fluid in resevoir but still never go away.
Is there a better procedure to get the PS to work right?
What is the best way to bleed the Power Steering Pump so it works correctly after it has been uninstalled and then re-installed?
Any suggestions or help would be so appreciated!

 

[RustyShackleford94]

Your supposed to jack it up and turn the wheel before you start it.

 

[blbzeckhart]

Yes. Did that. Still bubbles in system after turing wheel left to right dozens of times. Am I missing something?

 

[Dirtman]

Am I missing something?

Nope, welcome to owning a Ford power steering pump.

If there is a small leak anywhere in the system it can suck air in not just push fluid out so look for leaks but these systems are just notorious for being impossible to bleed. Sometimes cracking the lines and letting some fluid out at the lines helps purge the air out.

You can also go get yourself a handheld vacuum pump with an adapter, hook it up to the fluid reservoir and pull vacuum on it while turning the wheel lock to lock. This is usually enough to force stubborn air pockets out of the system.