What are the signs of a bad power steering pump???

[juiced_94gt]

I installed a new rack and pinion last week, and my steering is still kinda sloppy even after the aligment, the guy said it could be a pump going bad, sometimes it feels like the wheel locks when i turn it around a corner, and the other day it made kinda like a vibration as i made a u turn ( a left of course)

 

[AznStanger3v]

did you bleed the system when you replaced the rack?

when racks go bad, they *usually* make a supercharger sounding noise. it should also be a little harder to turn the wheel.

 

[fordtech28]

when the pump goes bad they start with whining and some jerking in the steering wheel on turns then eventually it will get stiffer to turn.

 

[juiced_94gt]

did you bleed the system when you replaced the rack?

when racks go bad, they *usually* make a supercharger sounding noise. it should also be a little harder to turn the wheel.

to bleed the system i just kept turning the wheel lock to lock while adding fluid until it would not take anymore, is this right??? it's what a local mechanic said to do, if not what is the proper way? my old rack did not whine but my steering was really sloppy, now that seems to be fixed but a popping/cracking sound that went away with the rack change just came back too, it happens when im coming to a stop, it sounds like it cracks.

 

[AznStanger3v]

to bleed the system i just kept turning the wheel lock to lock while adding fluid until it would not take anymore, is this right??? it's what a local mechanic said to do, if not what is the proper way? my old rack did not whine but my steering was really sloppy, now that seems to be fixed but a popping/cracking sound that went away with the rack change just came back too, it happens when im coming to a stop, it sounds like it cracks.

you bled it correctly, even though textbook wise, you dont lock it out, but hey, im not a book

the rack doesnt whine, the pump does

i wish i could fully understand the noises you are describing. im racking my brain trying to figure out why it would do that.

 

[Bosko5.0]

it might be your ball joints.

I thought it whinned cuz it wanted more power hehe
guess i should replace myne

do the local auto stores carry the the oem pump or do you have to get one from ford.

 

[OrangeMustangGt]

whhherrrrrrrrrr

 

[7991LXnSHO]

Did I replace the wrong part?

I bought a 91 LX 5.0, and the power steering fluid was toast. If you hold the wheel at 2 o clock, or back around at 7 o clock, it shakes or jerks a little or more. I flushed the fluid, then replaced the pump. It still does it. I always had only cold weather issues (AKA morning sickness) in my fox body cars when it was time to replace the rack. Do I need to replace this rack to get smooth steering again? The front end shop says everything is fine, except the jerking of course.

 

[Zero Signal]

With my Bronco, I typically gauge it by how many people point and laugh when I turn corners. If it's more than 3 people, it's time to top off the power steering fluid.

 

[MysteryMachine]

Holy old thread

 

[madspeed]

mine just whines all the time... JUST SAYIN

 

[7991LXnSHO]

This string was the closest to my topic and I did not want to get chewed out on my first post for not checking out the old posts. I will check the bolts that hold the column up too.

But this is a jerking, side to side motion, even when zooming on a smooth off/on ramp or idle speeds. Do I need a new rack, and might as well do the hoses, too? Or did I get a bad pump that just happens to do exactly the same thing as the old one?