Hard turning even after replacing power steering pump

[Shran]

Two things:

First off, the whole steering shaft and pitman arm can only go together a few different ways. The steering shaft splines only go together one way, the steering wheel only goes on one way, and the pitman arm has four different ways you can clock it. The shop you took it to is full of shit if they can't at least figure that part out.

Second, it is possible that the pump was damaged when you first bled it. If you tried to do the initial bleeding with the engine running and the wheels on the ground while turning the steering wheel, that can damage the pump immediately. The correct way to do it is with the front tires off the ground and the engine off. That said I have done it the "wrong" way a few times and never hurt it, but I have heard of people destroying a pump right off the bat.

Just some things to consider.

 

[tjs4x4]

Yeah, I didn't bleed it right the first time. Probably did damage the new pump, crap. Well, I go to pick it up from the tire shop today. We'll see what happens.

If its the pump, I'm gonna be mad.

 

[tjs4x4]

Well, got my suv back, its not the gearbox. Its still sticking even after replacing both power steering lines, gearbox, and ps pump. They're saying its in the steering column itself. Don't know what I'm gonna do.

 

[Shran]

The shop that told you that... is it the same one that couldn't figure out how the steering goes together?

Older Ford trucks are known for bearings wearing out in the steering column...especially F-series trucks '79 and older... if you can get a column cheap enough at a junkyard it might be worth swapping it out.

 

[tjs4x4]

How long can I drive with a steering column like this? Its hard to drive this thing this way. What all is involved in replacing a column?

 

[Shran]

Exactly how hard is it to turn the steering wheel?

I have driven a lot of shit cars with broken or no power steering, and ones where every piece from the column to the tie rod ends were worn out and none were really THAT bad... to me anyway.

I don't think that there is any set amount of time until you should stop driving it - if something is wrong with the column the worst thing that happens is it slowly wears itself out. Steering columns are not particularly hard to replace but my suggestion is to find a shop that knows what they are doing and have them diagnose it.

 

[tjs4x4]

Its not the turning that bothers me, its really not THAT hard to turn. Its just that when I go to straighten things out, the wheel will not return on its own, like with power steering that works right lol. I have to bring the wheel back straight, and its kinda scary when its doing that, cuz it takes a bit more pressure to bring it back straight then it does to turn. I can still feel the binding. I'm still not sure that its the column, I may still replace the new pump that I just put in, and see if that does it.
I didn't do the bleeding right, by what people are saying on here. I didn't jack it up first.

If this doesn't do it, I'm just going to drive it until something breaks or I decide to sell the damn thing.

 

[RangerSVT]

I highly doubt it is the column, but if it is, its not hard at all to replace, if you can do the PS pump yourself, the column is cake...remove the bottom panel under the column, disconnect the steering linkage at the firewall under the hood (remove pinch bolt and slide off linkage), remove 3 or 4 bolts of the firewall boot, loosen the 2 bolts of the steering column mount, 1 bolt each side about half way up, gently let it down, and disconnect ignition switch plug, will need an 8mm socket, back the nut off inthe middle of the connector, and unplug it ( I can't remember if there is one or two plugs on the column), remove the gear selector cable (should be a push-on connector) then remove the 2 mounting bolts and the column is out...
SVT

 

[tjs4x4]

I have a 5 speed, not an auto, will that matter in disconnecting/reconnecting?

Also, I am still going to replace the new power steering pump, I still think it could be that, just have to find time to do it.

 

[adsm08]

You didn't run into anything like a curb right before this started did you?

You problem actually sounds almost like it could be a castor issue.

 

[TimV]

Before you go through all that again replacing the pump, jack the front up, and disconnect you pitman arm from the steering linkage. Try to manually turn the wheels back and forth to see if something is binding in the suspension or linkage. You can also start it up and see if the steering wheel turns much easier without the linkage connected. If it is still hard to turn without the linkage, then it is either something in the column or the psp. No sense in replacing a perfectly good pump if something in the suspension is binding up.

 

[tjs4x4]

Ok so what exactly is the pitman arm? I'm not real savvy when it comes to suspension/steering issues, they scare me lol. Where and how do I disconnect it? Do i need any special tool(s)?

No, haven't hit any curbs. Had an alignment done after they installed the gearbox. They said, oh we do steering gear,but not steering columns...i was all like thinking, ooook. LOL. Its a tire shop, not really a 'shop', shop.

 

[tjs4x4]

And yes, this is the same tire shop that when I asked them about the linkage, and if they checked them, they said yes, but that the linkage would have nothing to do with the sticky turning issue. What a buncha retards.

 

[RangerSVT]

Ok, Since you have a manual, you won't have the shifter selector cable to worry about, but the rest is the same....the pitman arm is what bolts onto the gearbox and the tierod linkage hooks to the pitman arm, undue the tierod linkage from the pitman arm, and try and turn the steering wheel, truck will not need to be in the air for this procedure, should turn super easy with your pinkie, if not, then steering is binding from gearbox to steering wheel, could be the u joints between the steering column and the gearbox (the rod between the gearbox and the firewall) if it is stiff to turn, disconnect rod from steering column at firewall, and try again, if it is still stiff, its the steering column, if its easier, then its the joints in the steering rod...
SVT

 

[tjs4x4]

Ok sounds simple enough. I work early and long shifts the next three days so it won't b til sunday when I can test this out. Ill b mad if it was the column all along and didn't need to replace the gearbox. The ps pump makes a LOT of noise when turning...I've read that noisy pumps are common in ford trucks.