Infamous Steering whine

[johnsonsnb]

Hi folks,

I started having noticable steering whine lately. I thought it might be the pump having issues, so I swaped it out this weekend with a reman unit. I was careful to bleed the system of air, both with the stop-to-stop method, and also the vacuum method.

I've also verified that the lines are dry, and not leaking.

I'm now getting more whining when driving.

I'm suspecting that the steering gear is bad?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ranger44]

Tired of whining?

So was I,

clicky:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14295

 

[fixizin]

44, I read that thread... pretty cool... that's a MUCH more serious looking PS pump... does the '79 use ATF too?

(Does HD stand for Heavy Duty?)

 

[Ranger44]

Yes it uses type F, or at least that's what I've been using.

Yes it's a heavy duty replacement. Metal Saginaw.

The normal t-bird pump looks just like the plastic ones in other fords, including the Ranger.

 

[pillen140]

damn, that is pretty cool! my whiney one makes me miss my old manual box ranger!

 

[fixizin]

HOLD IT... isn't Type F the one made deliberately with GRIT (as a friction modifier) for older type auto-tranny clutches? It's different than the Mercon used today... IIRC...?

Well, anyway, no whining is good... at how many miles can I expect the "whining" to start?

 

[MAKG]

Mine doesn't whine after 3 years.

It seems to be caused by aeration in the fluid. That hasn't happened since I replaced the pump.

MANY folks cause it on installation, by trying to cut corners bleeding. These are very temperamental units, and they should be bled first with the engine off and only then finished up by SHORT bursts of engine-running. A Saginaw pump can tolerate being bled with the engine running alone.

 

[Ranger44]

MAKG is right. You get a little air into the pump and it whines forever. The saginaw can take all kinds of abuse.

The original is not a POS just hard to bleed.

 

[fixizin]

So I'm up with the classic stop-to-stop method... what is the "vacuum" method?

 

[Ranger44]

It's supposed to vacuum(suck) bleed the system. It's a hydraulic system.

You can vacuum bleed brake systems, and hydraulic clutches too.

 

[MAKG]

It's supposed to vacuum(suck) bleed the system. It's a hydraulic system.

You can vacuum bleed brake systems, and hydraulic clutches too.

Well, people try it for all three, but it doesn't work very well.

An open bleed screw doesn't hold vacuum. Most pressure seals don't hold vacuum, either. Either of those are pathways to pull air INTO the system with a vacuum pump.

For a PS gear, you aren't going to get fluid out of the two piston cavities without directing PS fluid there. You do that by turning the steering wheel.

Pressure bleeding works for brakes and clutches, but it will have the same problem for steering gears.

What's wrong with the stop-to-stop method? It's minimally messy, simple, and effective.