Power Steering pump will not quit whining!

[blbikerood]

Changed it out twice now. Both pumps do the same thing. I turn the wheels hard each direction to try to get the air out, and no luck. Has anyone ever had this happen. It is annoying as He**. It will make the noise on idle or going down the highway. I hate changing that thing and am tired of getting new pumps. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Thunder]

Did you jack up the front end and turn the steering a bunch of times from lock to lock to bleed the system? Both front tires must be raised off the ground to get all the air out.

 

[GreenieK30]

Whining pumps mean there is air in the system. Put it on jackstands, with the engine off slowly turn the steering wheel lock to lock. Do this until there are no bubbles in the resi (sometimes 30-40 times lock to lock). If you get the bubbles out, start the engine and turn the steering wheel lock to lock, if bubbles reappear, air is being sucked in somewhere.

 

[blbikerood]

Ok. I will do this

If they do reappear and air is getting into the system, what do I replace or do then?? Thanks!

 

[GreenieK30]

Clean all the oil off the fittings and connections so you can see if they are leaking. If oil is coming out, air is going in. I had one pump with a scratch in the new pulley shaft that would suck air and leak a little only above 2000 RPM.

 

[fallguy]

you might try a little of the lucas power steering fluid after you bleed/find leaks. its worked for me before to stop making noise.

 

[diesel4me]

A bad hose can restrict the flow of fluid also...if the return hose is collapsing inside and starving the pump for fluid it'll whine forever..not too common for the pressure hose to have any issues other than a leak,if it were blocked up some you'd have stiff steering and high effort required to move the whhel,and it might tend to squeal the belt..

 

[dhcomp]

A bad hose can restrict the flow of fluid also...if the return hose is collapsing inside and starving the pump for fluid it'll whine forever..not too common for the pressure hose to have any issues other than a leak,if it were blocked up some you'd have stiff steering and high effort required to move the whhel,and it might tend to squeal the belt..

Hm, maybe this is why mine sticks when first started up...or when first started and its really cold out.

Almost hit a parked car when i tried to make a u turn right after starting up a month ago

 

[blbikerood]

well..

My truck turns and handles well with no steering issues what so ever. But I'm not going to rule out a pressure line. I just hate to buy it and put it on and that not fix it.

 

[diesel4me]

Dhcomp-If the steering box is adjusted too tight or the spool valve is binding,that'll make it feel "sticky" when its cold out ..

Blbikerood --are you using power steering fluid,or Dextron??..Power Steering fluid IS different and works better in most pumps..but I've used Dextron in many of my trucks P/S pumps and never had any troubles also..

If the pump just whines but seems to put out good pressure ,then its probably not the hoses,it'd be having issues while under load in turns if a pressure hose or return were restricted most likely..might be the vanes in the pump are worn or got scuffed if the pump ran low once..some pumps are just plain noisy too,Fords whine more than any other vehicles I have noticed,but dont have any steering issues either..

I'd give the Lucas P/S treatment a shot,their products have worked well for me and friends many times..cant hurt!..

 

[blbikerood]

thanks guys,

it is the second power steering pump in two weeks with same issue. But it i got the pump from napa, it could have been bad, i just hate to do that again if it isn't the problem.