Powersteering Pump replacement gone wrong

520Fox

New Member
Mar 29, 2020
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yuma, az
So here's what happened. I bought a new (re manufactured) power steering pump for my 87 mustang, because there was a bit a clanking noise at idle and a rattling noise at high rpm. I then noticed the shaft of the pump seemed loose where there was a lot of play back and fourth. Before even putting the new pump on i noticed it had the same play with the pulley, which made me a little concerned but figured maybe that's normal. Once the install was complete i started up the car, and it was making a racket and whining like a baby. I then shut the car off and decided to flush the fluid since the new unit had red fluid in it and i was already previously using clear fluid. I flushed my fluid a month ago where i capped off where the return line goes to and put the return line in a pan and turn the wheels till the fluid is clean and took me like maybe 30 minutes, no problems. But this new pump was uncooperative and didn't seem to want to drain and took for ever and out of frustration i turned the car on and it made it clear quick. I then re filled the reservoir and turned the car on still pretty bad and then it seemed to quiet down a bit. So i decided i would drive the car home thinking I probably got sold a bad pump. Not more than 2 miles down the road i lost all power steering and then it came back and decided to pull off the road to see what was going on. There was metal shaving in the reservoir and was low so I filled it back up and drove another 3 miles back home and by that time the pump was steaming and looked to be bone dry. What do think happened, was I sold a bad part, what did I do wrong, feel free to criticize me I just want my car to be fixed right. Also since there was metal shaving in the system is steering rack toast or can i possibly flush the system out with new fluid
 
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I don’t know exactly what happened in your case but I went through 3 different PS pumps until I found one that whined less loud than my supercharger! Lol. Those pumps are a problem. It killed me to put a reman part on my car, but that’s all you can find. Which amazes me with the aftermarket parts available for our beloved Foxes. But I added some Lucas power steering treatment, think that’s what it was called. Look on the forums. It quieted down the pump to an acceptable level, but it’s still noisy. In your case sounds like you got a bad pump, especially if you didn’t have shavings in the system prior to the install. But I’m no mechanic. Don’t know how old the rack is, but there are probably shavings in that now as well, and the lines, and if you put a new pump on the system, you run the risk of ruining it, then it’s on you. I would go back to where you bought the pump, and tell them what happened. See what they say. But it doesn’t seem like you did anything wrong.
 
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Some whining is normal, sounds like you got a bad pump. Flush out the system when installing new pump. Before you start the car, disconnect coil, fill p/s , and crank engine while turning steering wheel from lock to lock, stop check fluid top off and repeat until you don't see bubbles anymore. This is the best way to bleed air from a p/s system on a Ford.
 
To also add our p/s pumps use ATF fluid in them vs power steering fluid which is the reason for the red fluid.
That was a debate a while back because the cap reads 'power steering fluid' and that is what I used when I replaced my rack years ago, when the trans fluid thing came up I disputed it until I consulted my magic book and it specifically stated trans fluid, although I continue to use power steering fluid the factory says ATF.
By the way, my pump has 150k on it and you can barely hear it.
Especially when Van Halen is at full throttle. :nice:
 
I had to replace the PS pump on my ‘86 because it started leaking, but it didn’t make any noise. I put a Delco remanufactured pump on it, added new lines and cooler loop. The new pump continues to make noise, but I’m not ready to replace it yet, as it’s only got a few hundred miles on it.
 
My re-manufactured everything on my cars steering made noise until I put a half bottle of Lucas. Now its real good. I also believe that it took a couple of months to work in. Also I put in a filter for the power steering. Changed the fluid three times
 

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My re-manufactured everything on my cars steering made noise until I put a half bottle of Lucas. Now its real good. I also believe that it took a couple of months to work in. Also I put in a filter for the power steering. Changed the fluid three times
The Lucas stuff says it’s to stop leaks. Is that what you used? Also, what kind of filter did you use?
 
Twelve dollar in line from Advanced...I just used half bottle with the stop leak. I had it around from before. It stopped a massive steering rack leak for six months. I think its a fairly small ratio . Its a small bottle 12 oz maybe 8 oz.
 
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The replacement procedure I remember calls for turning the steering wheel back and forth x number of times while the car is stationary but running to make sure the bubbles are out of the system. The exact procedure came with the TRW racks I put in. I’m not sure about M-1 Cardone. But without this step, the system will be noisy from air caught in the system for a very long time.

I have flushed the PS system by hand turning the pump and adding fluid until new fluid came out the return hose. That was very slow. From then on, when I changed the fluid or replaced a worn rack on other Fox body cars, it was with an assistant cranking the engine (coil wire off) while I made sure the tank did not run dry. A PBNO jumper switch on the starter solenoid would work as well. Then the spouse probably does not get upset with orders to start or stop cranking.

The PS fluid filters sound great. But what happens when one gets clogged? How much pressure will build up in a blocked return line before it blows out? I do not know if there is a high pressure bypass in them like in oil filters. But it seems foolish the OEM’s have waited this long to start including these, and that many do not recommend preventative maintenance PS fluid changes.
My oldest has a used New Beetle, and they do not put a dipstick for the auto transmission, as VW thinks it does not need serviced for the life of the car. I think power steering fluid and transmission fluid both need changed, and that PS fluid and The pump are overworked for the amount of work the system does.
 
This old stock rack was replaced by the sport 2 1/2 turn Cardone reman. unit. less than ninety bucks. I was nervous about this because of the reviews , but so far real good. No warranty without a filter.
 

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There are much worse remanufactures than Cardone. I think they have upgraded QC and are trying to be a premium line for shops. I do not know an insider, it is product observations and fewer returns that changed my rating.
$90 was a great deal, Pete.


This old stock rack was replaced by the sport 2 1/2 turn Cardone reman. unit. less than ninety bucks. I was nervous about this because of the reviews , but so far real good. No warranty without a filter.
 
I’ve had my issues with them as well. I installed a reman Delco and it made it about 500 before starting to whine super loud. I recently replaced it with a Motorcraft reman and it’s quite as a mouse. If that fails me I’m going with Tuff Stuff as they make new ones.