Power Steering problem 89 5.0

[89VertLX]

My 89 5.0 LX has developed a problem this year. Once the car is warmed up, the power steering pretty much stops working at very low speeds.

It feels fine when I start the car and pull it out of the garage, and I don't notice anything wrong when I'm driving around town or on the highway. But once I try to park the car, it's like I don't have any power steering boost. Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem? The car has 74k original miles, and yes, I did check to make sure the ps fluid is full. I've never had to top it off since I bought the car. The pump doesn't make any unusual noises either...

Thanks in advance!

Sam in Denver
89 'vert (bone stock)
87 T-bird turbo coupe (bone stock)
99 SVT Contour (not stock) *eg*

 

[jrichker]

The likelyhood is that the PS pump is dying a slow death. Not hard to replace, the only difficult part is getting the old pulley pressed off. Most auto parts stores will rent/loan a puller to remove the pulley.

 

[1SLO306]

sounds like ur having the same problems i had for a while. mine would not wrok at idle but if i revved up some it would work a little. i kept driving it and finally it just locked up on me, i thought the engine blew cause it wouldnt start for nothin. but it was my ps pump. i just bought another ps pump and pulley(cause other pulley wouldnt work after i took it off). if u have to get another pulley, that will be the most expensive part at 60 bucks from a ford dealer.

oh and have fun bleeding the ps pump system(take forever)

 

[RsStanG1987]

oh and have fun bleeding the ps pump system(take forever)

I diddnt do that when i changed my rack. Long story short i blew the metal hose on the rack to sh1t