Power steering whine

[stdyhand]

I have an annoying power steering whine. When I got the car, it had a power steering whine and a leaking steering rack. So I replaced the steering rack and went through the whole routine of turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off the ground, but the whine continued. So I bought a brand new steering pump and did it all over again just to find out I still had the problem. I thought maybe I got a bad pump. I took it back and had them give me another one. I put it on and again had the same problem. I had a shop take a look at it to ensure there was no air in it, but still it continues to whine.

I was told to drive it for a while and see if it quits. Well it has been several months and it still whines and I am getting a little tired of listening to it. I can hear it over my exhaust which is fairly loud.

I used power steering fluid in the pump because that is what my chiltons manual says to use and that is what the parts guy at the ford parts center said to use, but I've read a few posts where people said to use Type F transmission fluid.

There are some who use Type F and still have a whine though. I read couple posts about using friction modifier in it. Does this work? I have a little bit I remember correctly.

Any ideas how to get rid of this problem?

 

[4rdnut]

I have an annoying power steering whine. When I got the car, it had a power steering whine and a leaking steering rack. So I replaced the steering rack and went through the whole routine of turning the wheels lock to lock with the car off the ground, but the whine continued. So I bought a brand new steering pump and did it all over again just to find out I still had the problem. I thought maybe I got a bad pump. I took it back and had them give me another one. I put it on and again had the same problem. I had a shop take a look at it to ensure there was no air in it, but still it continues to whine.

I was told to drive it for a while and see if it quits. Well it has been several months and it still whines and I am getting a little tired of listening to it. I can hear it over my exhaust which is fairly loud.

I used power steering fluid in the pump because that is what my chiltons manual says to use and that is what the parts guy at the ford parts center said to use, but I've read a few posts where people said to use Type F transmission fluid.

There are some who use Type F and still have a whine though. I read couple posts about using friction modifier in it. Does this work? I have a little bit I remember correctly.

Any ideas how to get rid of this problem?

Take the return line off the pump reservoir, plug the pump where you removed the return line so it holds fluid, put the return line thats now coming off the rack into a container, have someone crank the engine over 3 seconds at a time and turning wheel back and forth, while you pour in fresh type F fluid so it won't suck in air. I use castrol type F trans fluid from advance auto.

 

[aar0s]

Ive had luck with using synthetic PS fluid to quiet a whiny pump.

 

[stdyhand]

I got the fluid swapped out. It has all type F tranny fluid in it now. It did help quite a bit, but it still whines some. It got rid of the groaning sound but the whine still exists. Over all it was worth the swap, but I would like to quiet it down more. I may add a little modifier to it, just to see if it will help.

 

[BlackGT89]

With our cars it seems like most of the replacement pumps whine, so rebuild the original if you still have it. The friction modifier is used specifcally for the clutch packs in the diff. to eliminate chatter.

 

[fivespeedsteed]

ive been through a couple pumps that all wined. one day ill buck up and buy a ford one. or wait for mm to come out with a ps kit that will let you use your ac

 

[stang&2Birds]

ive been through a couple pumps that all wined. one day ill buck up and buy a ford one. or wait for mm to come out with a ps kit that will let you use your ac

Cool, you have a time machine! I'll pay you $50 to take me back with you.

Ford stopped making new pumps and racks many many years ago. Their manufactured stuff is outsourced. So, the quality is questionable.

If you want a rebuilt pump "from Ford", the part number is:
Motorcraft STP25RM
~$126 on Amazon

Or, buy a new AGR pump.
AGR Performance 809102
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AGR-809102/
$130

 

[jrichker]

Rumor is that the 94-95 pumps don't whine and are a bolt up replacement for earlier pumps. While I can't confirm this, it might be worthwhile to take your old pump to the parts store and compare it to a 94-95 pump.