Power Steering Pump Bleeding

[jlockhart26]

Hi All,

I need some help! I have a 98 Ranger, 2wd, 4cyl with a 5spd manual. I have replaced the power steering pump and pressure hose. When I installed I followed the bleeding procedure in the Chilton book, but the noise persists. I have tried jacking the front, and turning from stop to stop, but can never get a complete cylce without any bubbles showing in the reservoir. I have checked for leaks, and can't find any. I just can't seem to get all the air out of the system, and the pump still makes bad noise!! The pump is a reman, and I do have a power steering cooler. Any tips that don't involve a vacuum? I drained the system at least 4 times, and started over...please help!

 

[Mutant Pony]

Stop messing with it! The power steering system bleeds itself. Turn it back and forth lock to lock a couple times and make sure it stays full. It will continue to bleed itself for a while. Sometimes all you have to do is shut off the motor and let it sit for about 10 minutes. If the pump continues to make a loud noise, it is either defective or you damaged it.

 

[jlockhart26]

should I replace the return line as well? I've heard it is better to run ATF in the steering system, is this true? What about loosening the pressure hose at the bottom end while motor is running, and bleeding there? I'm just afraid that I have a air leak and I'm going to damage the pump.

 

[Yellowsplash]

Fill it with mercon ATF and go for a drive...stop and check the fluid level, top off if necessary and drive some more. It will work itself out.

 

[whocares]

This may help, it may not. The only experience I have had thus far with ford power steering was on an 02 crown vic 4.6. Replaced the pump, noise was still there. Followed all the directions to a tee.
I replaced the pressure hose, no change. I replaced the return hose and thats when I noticed that the inside of the hose was breaking down and letting these little rubber pieces go everywhere.
I pulled the P.S. reservoir and sure enough, it had a ton of rubber pieces in the bottom of it. On the Crown vic, there is a screened filter in the bottom of the reservoir that was clogged with the debris.
Cleaned all that out, and the fluid was free to flow. Noise stopped, life was good.

Ron

 

[Captain Ledd]

Stop messing with it! The power steering system bleeds itself. Turn it back and forth lock to lock a couple times and make sure it stays full. It will continue to bleed itself for a while. Sometimes all you have to do is shut off the motor and let it sit for about 10 minutes. If the pump continues to make a loud noise, it is either defective or you damaged it.

Ford pumps will not self bleed. Just about every other one will though.

should I replace the return line as well? I've heard it is better to run ATF in the steering system, is this true? What about loosening the pressure hose at the bottom end while motor is running, and bleeding there? I'm just afraid that I have a air leak and I'm going to damage the pump.

Yes, Run ATF in it. You can run regular P/S fluid, but it can be a bit louder, I'm told it also get's hotter and shortens the pump life as well. That being said, both my Rangers have regular P/S fluid in them lol.

This may help, it may not. The only experience I have had thus far with ford power steering was on an 02 crown vic 4.6. Replaced the pump, noise was still there. Followed all the directions to a tee.
I replaced the pressure hose, no change. I replaced the return hose and thats when I noticed that the inside of the hose was breaking down and letting these little rubber pieces go everywhere.
I pulled the P.S. reservoir and sure enough, it had a ton of rubber pieces in the bottom of it. On the Crown vic, there is a screened filter in the bottom of the reservoir that was clogged with the debris.
Cleaned all that out, and the fluid was free to flow. Noise stopped, life was good.

Ron

He said he replaced the pump too, so it should be good to go. Unless it promptly filled up with crap again.

Ford P/S pumps need to be bled under VACUUM. Yes, thats correct. There is a little pocket around the actual pump that will never quite be able to rid itself entirely, there will still be a whine, just a quiet one. All Ford style pumps are like this.

Get a replacement P/S cap (either replace your current one or use this one), basic hose barb and vacuum line that will attach to your engine somewhere (make sure the barb will match the hose size). I used a brake bleeding trap (a cup that can catch excess fluid, it supposedly came with a power brake bleeder kit, I really don't know what to call it) which hooks inline to the vacuum tube. This is so you don't suck ATF or P/S fluid into the engine. I also got a "T" fitting, so I could hook the hijacked vacuum line back up. If all that makes sense, drill into the cap and thread in the hose barb, connect the tubes.

Then just drive around for a bit while it bleeds. Or just let it idle while turning it back and forth.

You wouldn't believe that air it pulled out of my system. I had to start and stop the truck a number of times because it literally started turning the fluid into foam. Had to let it settle back down

I've done this personally on a Mercury Sable as well.

I have a video of the setup somewhere.

 

[BeaterMan]

ford is the only company to use a "slipper type" pump vs a vein type that all other manufactures use and it is a naturally noiser pump. just drive it for a bit and if that doesn't work a vacuum pump is in store.

when ever i need to bleed a pump, i disable the ignition and fill the pump up. with the engine turning over i slowly turn the steering wheel until the fluid level drops.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've NEVER vacuum-bled mine, and it's just as quiet as the day the truck was new (which of course isn't to say it's dead-silent).

I've always done it like this:
Fill it up with type-F ATF (use Mercon if your truck is newer and calls for it), jack tires off ground, cycle steering lock-lock, refill reservoir, start engine, repeat cycling lock-lock, recheck reservoir, then drive it. Never had any issue with noise.

I suspect you got a bad pump if it won't quiet down.

 

[modelageek]

make sure you have new atf in the pump. I have a turkey baster and when ever i change my oil i suck the pump dry and replace with fresh atf. Drive the truck slowly in figure 8's it will self bleed

 

[Mutant Pony]

I work as certified auto tech, I have never vacuum bled a single ford power steering pump and I have never had a problem. I have installed thousands of them.
I NEVER use any kind of atf in any power streering system, If you use the wrong (or cheap) ATF it will cause leaks. Power steering fluid is more readily available and will not cause leaks.

 

[jlockhart26]

A little update....first of all I thank you all for the tips. I replaced the pressure and return hoses, drained and flushed, and filled with new atf. I followed the bleeding procedure in the chilton manual. After so many hours of messing with it, I have got it to a point where it is quieter than before I replaced the pump, but it still whines, but really only when turning at low speeds. I give up, I'm convinced that it is a Ford thing, or the reman pump I got is crappy, probably the ladder. When I have some free time, I think I might return the pump for a new one, and start over, that is if I have any patience left. Other than, the steering feels great, and no leaks what so ever, and the fluid isn't foaming anymore. I didn't ever try the vacuum bleed, I have never done it and need to read some more. But I have become fairly quick at and power steering related service...haha.

 

[modelageek]

A little update....first of all I thank you all for the tips. I replaced the pressure and return hoses, drained and flushed, and filled with new atf. I followed the bleeding procedure in the chilton manual. After so many hours of messing with it, I have got it to a point where it is quieter than before I replaced the pump, but it still whines, but really only when turning at low speeds. I give up, I'm convinced that it is a Ford thing, or the reman pump I got is crappy, probably the ladder. When I have some free time, I think I might return the pump for a new one, and start over, that is if I have any patience left. Other than, the steering feels great, and no leaks what so ever, and the fluid isn't foaming anymore. I didn't ever try the vacuum bleed, I have never done it and need to read some more. But I have become fairly quick at and power steering related service...haha.

it is what it is. Ford ps pumps whine. I read the engineering about why they whine but i forgot it. my method has never failed. go to a parking lot and do slow figure 8's.