steering turns hard on '00 6 cyl.

wmburns said:

First check for crimped/bent/damaged PS lines. Any restrictions in the PS lines can cause problems like you are having.

How did you install the PS pulley? Did you press it on with the correct tool? If you hammered on the pulley even once, likely that has damaged the pump.

So what did you do to purge the air from the pump? Are you seeing any bubbles in the reservior?

You will continue to have problems until ALL of the air is out of the system. Draining the fluid will simply re-start the purging process at square one and not really solve anything.

I have always been taught that once air bubbles get into the system, that continued operation will create every smaller bubbles thus making the problem worse.

So if you see bubbles, turn the car off and let the bubbles settle. Repeat.

The other thing that help is to get the weight off of the front wheels. Move the wheels from lock to lock. Do not allow the pump to work against the steering stops. The idea is to circulate the fluid without working the pump too hard (untill ALL of the air is out).

OBTW, there is a Ford TSB dealing with a creak while turning the wheels near the limit of their travel. The problem occurs when the rack shifts (as designed) on the bushings and rubs the rack mounting points. The fix is new/updated rack mounts sleeves.

Another option is to switch to stiffer bushings and lub them well.

To the last question. Were any suspension changes made during the repair? If not, it it reasonable to look there for problems? Some movement of the the struts at the limit of their travel is normal.

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