Every power steering pump I hear on a v-6 mustang really sounds awful! Has anyone had any success quieting their pump down? I am going to change the fluid but I doubt it will help. Any suggestions? Use power steering fluid instead of ATF? Maybe look for a synthetic power steering fluid or an additive? Any good suggestions appreciated!
power steering whine
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MustangLX-5.0
Founding Member
You positive it's your PS and not something else such as your alternator or tensioner pulley? I've had to replace my alternator twice in 5 years plus the idler pulley and now the tensioner pully.Oh,even the waterpump got replaced even.All of this because the bearings were getting very loud. Seems the tensioner pully could be at fault.
Also,if the tensioner pully itself is on backwards,it makes a horrible loud whining noise that sounds very similar to a severly worn power steering pump.Only worse..
And i'm not sure about making the pump any more quiet than it allready is.Many Fords come with PS pumps that make a whining sound which is quite normal.Mine isn't all that loud.However,if you really think yours is excessivly noisy,it may be a bit worn out.
I always use PS fluid.Never tried using tranny fluid allthough I heard it pretty much works the same.Try using some of that Lucas PS additive.Am not real sure about it but all Lucas products i've ever used worked well.Get it at any Auto Parts store.
Also,if the tensioner pully itself is on backwards,it makes a horrible loud whining noise that sounds very similar to a severly worn power steering pump.Only worse..
And i'm not sure about making the pump any more quiet than it allready is.Many Fords come with PS pumps that make a whining sound which is quite normal.Mine isn't all that loud.However,if you really think yours is excessivly noisy,it may be a bit worn out.
I always use PS fluid.Never tried using tranny fluid allthough I heard it pretty much works the same.Try using some of that Lucas PS additive.Am not real sure about it but all Lucas products i've ever used worked well.Get it at any Auto Parts store.
Skymarshal
Member
Mine whines loudly too. It's loud enough that I can hear it over my MAC exhaust, so I want to quiet it down. I'm almost sure it's the PS pump, but I don't have a mechanic's stethoscope so I can't tell for sure.
I've never heard of the tensioner pulley being on backwards. Is that a 5.0 thing? I don't know how that could happen unless it came that way from Ford, since the pulley is usually never removed from the tensioner.
My PS fluid is also milky looking. I thought that might be due to the pump going bad and making noise, but maybe it's just dirty. Anyone ever change their fluid? The only way I can think of doing it is just to disconnect the return line, then start the car and turn the wheel back and forth until most of the fluid is pumped out of the system. I'll end up having to do essentially the same thing if I change the pump though...
I've never heard of the tensioner pulley being on backwards. Is that a 5.0 thing? I don't know how that could happen unless it came that way from Ford, since the pulley is usually never removed from the tensioner.
My PS fluid is also milky looking. I thought that might be due to the pump going bad and making noise, but maybe it's just dirty. Anyone ever change their fluid? The only way I can think of doing it is just to disconnect the return line, then start the car and turn the wheel back and forth until most of the fluid is pumped out of the system. I'll end up having to do essentially the same thing if I change the pump though...
MustangLX-5.0
Founding Member
Sky..that tensioner pully isn't really a 5.0 thing.Was just something I noticed on a few V6's not to forget my own even.For the longest time I thought it was the A/C compressor but then one day I was under the car while it was running checking a leak problem and noticed the whine was lounder down there.I used my right elbow and carefully pressed it tightly against the backside of the tensioner assembly.Then pressed my ear into the palm of my hand.The elbow acted like a pickup device and I could hear that annoying buzz fed right into my palm.I unbolted the pully and later after I put it back on,noticed I must've put it on the other way since it was clean looking by the center.Well,that noise ended.But it still makes other noises like the bearing seems to be wearing out.Having a very tad bit of side to side play is a good give away also.
Does the noise get louder when you turn the steering side to side while parked? If it does,then you know for sure it's the PS.Having that milky color....water got in the resevoir.Make sure your cap is on all the way.If it is,either the cap seal has gone bad or water could be getting in through the small airhole on top (Cleaned your motor lately?) To flush it out,just remove the top hose from the pump itself.Get a drain pan and drop the hose into the pan.Get a 2 - 3 foot length of rubber hose (Don't remember exactly what size.I believe the heater hose that would fit on the water pump .. 5/8" ?).Plug one end of the hose onto the top fitting of the pump that was disconnected and the other end into the drain pan.The typical way to do this is to spin the motor over remotely.In your case,you have coil over plugs so you'll have to disconnect them otherwise your motor will start.The spinning of the pully will run it all out.Better to crank a couple seconds,wait a few seconds,crank a few wait..etc.
Don't know if it'd be a good idea to actually run the motor.It may burn something up in the pump since it's constantly moving.
And make sure it isn't your alternator shaft bearing making that noise.Since it is right above the pump.Had to replace the alt. twice because the bearing got quite bad....and quite loud.Wasn't exactly a whine sound.More like a hollowed out grinding/ticking noise.
Does the noise get louder when you turn the steering side to side while parked? If it does,then you know for sure it's the PS.Having that milky color....water got in the resevoir.Make sure your cap is on all the way.If it is,either the cap seal has gone bad or water could be getting in through the small airhole on top (Cleaned your motor lately?) To flush it out,just remove the top hose from the pump itself.Get a drain pan and drop the hose into the pan.Get a 2 - 3 foot length of rubber hose (Don't remember exactly what size.I believe the heater hose that would fit on the water pump .. 5/8" ?).Plug one end of the hose onto the top fitting of the pump that was disconnected and the other end into the drain pan.The typical way to do this is to spin the motor over remotely.In your case,you have coil over plugs so you'll have to disconnect them otherwise your motor will start.The spinning of the pully will run it all out.Better to crank a couple seconds,wait a few seconds,crank a few wait..etc.
Don't know if it'd be a good idea to actually run the motor.It may burn something up in the pump since it's constantly moving.
And make sure it isn't your alternator shaft bearing making that noise.Since it is right above the pump.Had to replace the alt. twice because the bearing got quite bad....and quite loud.Wasn't exactly a whine sound.More like a hollowed out grinding/ticking noise.
94 3.8l stang
New Member
Fords are "KNOWN" for having loud powersteering. Its not a problem usually, Check your fluid, if its full and not black like mud. You should be fine. Mine whines on my 94 stang, whinned on my old pickup, and whines on my Escort. Its common. I think there are very few I've not heard whine. They'll work for a long time if not longer then the engine in the vehicle. Hope that eases the mind.
It is definitely a power steering pump whine. Same whine my 67 had. Sounds like air in the pump. I hear it on all v6 mustangs and some v8's. The v8's are louder so they probably cover up the whine. Anyone use any good synthetic power steering fluid or additive that they trust? I know its common for ford power steering pumps to make the noise, but it sure sounds terrible!!
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