YouAreABus
Joined:
Jan 2008
Delaware (central) Ohio
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Hey all, my new (to me) '88 TC has steering issues. The return line to the reservoir was loose and causing a leak, but I have fixed that. The steering pump has always been loud and last week it was hard to steer. After I fixed the leak, I bled the system and the steering feels 200% better, but it is still noisy. As soon as I apply any pressure to the steering wheel in either direction I get a loud wining, and some times the belt will squeak. I didn't notice any metal in the P/S fluid, and I did notice a fluid drip on the rack bellows, but I think the other leak was dripping onto it because it leaked from the center of the bellows, no the ends. Is there a good way to tell for sure if it is my pump or my rack? I just don't want to spend any money that I don't need to.
Thanks!
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viney266
Joined:
Nov 2007
Westminster Md.
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Mines noisy as can be as well. It doesn't seem to leak, but I"ve never had a ford ( owned lots ) with such a loud pump. I am going to flush mine as well. I just bought the car this fall and it goes on the road in the spring.
Speed is only a matter of money, How fast do you want to go?
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Matt S
Joined:
Apr 2001
Mountlake Terrace, WA
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The power steering on these cars is not quiet, and it is the pump making that whining noise. I even spent $$$ for an aftermarket one and it's marginally quieter when turning than stock even with friction modifier and synthetic fluid. It should be quiet when you're not turning the wheels. If it is not quiet, there's a tech article or post around that talks about flushing the power steering also. Some have said putting a vacuum on the reservoir (with a spare cap and tube put in the cap) while bleeding and turning the tires has helped.
Sold it  *
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bhazard
Joined:
Nov 2005
Swanton, OH
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I used to have a nasty leaky steering rack. I was always going low on fluid and stuff, always adding fluid. My steering sounds like youre stepping on a cats tail when its cold out like this. Pretty noisy just sitting there, then when youre turning the wheel and the car is still cold its pretty hard to turn and really noisy.
Accelerating almost sounds like a supercharger though
88 TC, 170k, K&N, $5 Boostvalve, Stinger 3" ex., 3" Magnaflow, 3" Stinger tail, Zoom clutch
15.26 @ 86mph, 2.18 60' killed valvetrain & headgasket
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YouAreABus
Joined:
Jan 2008
Delaware (central) Ohio
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I have also noticed that the p/s fluid comes out of the small vent hole in the cap after a drive. The fluid level is correct, here's my theory based on reading some of the posts I have come across: maybe I have air getting into the system by way of the high pressure line fitting on the pump, and that air is pressurizing and forcing the fluid, and air I suppose, out of the vent hole. I have read about an o-ring on the pressure line that can cause a leak. I have also read about people applying vacuum to the reservoir to try to bleed the system, but if that is the case I would assume that if fluid is coming out if the cap then the system is under pressure, and therefore may not be functioning properly.
What do you think?
Also the pump seems to wine all the time, and gets louder when I turn the wheel, and sometimes I even hear the belt squeaking. I'm thinking about replacing the pump and the high pressure line, but I don't want to spend any money that I don't have to, or find out the problem was my rack all along!
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Martin
Joined:
Aug 2001
Agassiz, BC, Canada
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Is the oil coming out of the vent hole white or frothy? THe pumps are noisy but I have the original pump, flushed once, and it is dead quiet! Oh 135 thousand miles on it. It is currently -22 degrees C, thats about -8 F, below out and I have just come back from dinner, no whine!
Whine is caused by very few issues. One, Viscosity is too heavy, so the the pump, being a Vane style chops at the oil trying to pull it in from the res side and push it out to the pressure side. No air is being sucked in, the cavitation is simply the pump pulling a void cuse the oil cannot get in fast enough and this causes a loud fast popping noise and very little froth! Normally termed Cavitation! Synthetic is good, but I just use a good quality steering fluid with friction modifier in it! Very Frothy or white oil means air mixing and that means that the pump is sucking in air due to low level or viscosity to heavy to flow smoothly into the pump vane pickup section, it can pull air in. Once the oil leaves the pump and is pushed to the rack, there is very little chance that air can be "sucked" into the sytem as it the system is all under pressure, and there will be leakage outward, no air ingress!
If your pump is making white oil, chances are its going on you.
Martin
Stock 87, no mods, Black with the grey interior.
Boost High, Fly Low
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YouAreABus
Joined:
Jan 2008
Delaware (central) Ohio
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Well now that you mention it, the fluid is not white or frothy in any way. I only use power steering fluid to top it off so I'm not putting anything funky in the pump, but it has been very cold lately. When the car (and fluid) is cold, the steering is difficult to turn, and the pump is extremely loud. After the car warms up I have no issues with the steering, and the pump is significantly quieter, but still loud enough for people to perceive my car as a POS that it is certainly not. I have read that some people will flush the system and use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF in the pump, how does everybody feel about that, or better yet if your pump is quiet, what are you using?!?
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JohnL
Joined:
Jul 2005
Madison Heights, VA, USA
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I believe the factory spec is for Ford Type F auto trans fluid.
John Lewis
88 TC, 87 XR, 84 SVO
Currently deciding which is worth my time.
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YouAreABus
Joined:
Jan 2008
Delaware (central) Ohio
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Really? Maybe I'll flush it out and refill with Type F ATF this weekend. Just for the record, Dexron/Mercon goes in the auto tranny, right?
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JohnL
Joined:
Jul 2005
Madison Heights, VA, USA
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Yes. In fact, I'm not sure if Dexron/Mercon couldn't be used in the PS, not sure what the effect would be, it would certainly operate fine, as it's still an ATF which is fine for Ford systems, I know many manufacturers use ATF in PS, including Toyota which uses the Dexron/Mercon. But I think Type F was the traditional fluid to use in the Ford pump.
John Lewis
88 TC, 87 XR, 84 SVO
Currently deciding which is worth my time.
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