Very loud PS pump - drivable?

[sgtsandman]

Pull the belt and check the tensioner, alternator, and idler pulley for play, not turning smoothly, and grittiness. If those check ok, try running the engine for a few minutes while cold and see if the noise continues or not. You can safely run the few minuties wirhout the water pump turning safely for a few minutes.

If nothing, look at the power steering pump again since you already isolated the A/C compressor. A rebuilt pump doesn't mean it is a good pump. Heck, anymore, a new part doesn't necessarily mean it's a good part.

 

[Shran]

Those idler pulleys can make a lot of noise if the bearings go bad.

 

[sgtsandman]

Those idler pulleys can make a lot of noise if the bearings go bad.

I've had them make a horrible squeal only when it was colder than 20 degrees and would stop after they warmed up. Those pulleys can do weird things.

 

[Shran]

I've had them make a horrible squeal only when it was colder than 20 degrees and would stop after they warmed up. Those pulleys can do weird things.

Yeah... I ignored one that was squeaking on my old Malibu for a couple days and it self destructed, threw the belt off and got a bit hot. Fortunately I was only about half a mile from my office when that happened. The pulley on that was plastic, melted the center right out of it when the bearing got hot.

 

[Mrmosher]

Pull the belt and check the tensioner, alternator, and idler pulley for play, not turning smoothly, and grittiness. If those check ok, try running the engine for a few minutes while cold and see if the noise continues or not. You can safely run the few minuties wirhout the water pump turning safely for a few minutes.

If nothing, look at the power steering pump again since you already isolated the A/C compressor. A rebuilt pump doesn't mean it is a good pump. Heck, anymore, a new part doesn't necessarily mean it's a good part.

Thanks! All the rest of the pulleys feel ok, no grittiness or play. No noise when I run the truck with the belt off. My friend suggested it might be the water pump but seems unlikely since it's not leaking coolant or overheating? I'm willing to try another PS pump, just seems odd that the noise would be identical between pumps, noticed no difference at all.

 

[MT_PLS]

Thanks! All the rest of the pulleys feel ok, no grittiness or play. No noise when I run the truck with the belt off. My friend suggested it might be the water pump but seems unlikely since it's not leaking coolant or overheating? I'm willing to try another PS pump, just seems odd that the noise would be identical between pumps, noticed no difference at all.

If that's the case, I would replace the tensioner before I tried another ps pump.

 

[RobbieD]

This is an odd one.

Have you looked at the fan clutch?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Thanks! All the rest of the pulleys feel ok, no grittiness or play. No noise when I run the truck with the belt off. My friend suggested it might be the water pump but seems unlikely since it's not leaking coolant or overheating? I'm willing to try another PS pump, just seems odd that the noise would be identical between pumps, noticed no difference at all.

Make sure you work the steering wheel lock to lock several times to work the air out of the power steering system too.

I have a pulley making noise on my dd when cold, I just snagged a mechanics stethoscope so I can figure out who the problem pulley is. You can use a big screwdriver too if you have the room, put to the bolt on the pulley and you can hear which one is unhappy.

 

[Ranger850]

From what i remember, air in the system is what makes the FORD PS system wine so bad. Reducing or eliminatong that air should quiet the noise. This is why both pumps sound the same. You still have air in the lines.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

From what i remember, air in the system is what makes the FORD PS system wine so bad. Reducing or eliminatong that air should quiet the noise. This is why both pumps sound the same. You still have air in the lines.

If left unchecked it can score the insides of the pump and it will forever be a screamer.

 

[SenorNoob]

Every time I've changed one, it takes several minutes of turning lock to lock to get it to get any quieter. A few more minutes with some holding at lock for a couple seconds to get to something that could be considered normal. Sometimes with more fluid added along the way. It's a real PITA.