I have a 95 Ford F150. I've been having problems with my steering wheel making a noise as I turn the wheel. It sounds like a spring when you crank it too tight. Two months ago I had a front wheel allignment & the steering wheel seemed tighter, harder to turn, not as much play in it as before the allignment. I've checked the power steering fluid, its fine. I've had it greased & it still make this noise in the steering wheel...not under the hood. I thought about having the power steering flushed but when I asked if they use power steering fluid or transmission fluid, I had second thoughts. They said they use power steering fluid but the old timers used transmission fluid. So, I thought I'd ask for some opinions on this & maybe some opinions why my steering wheel is making a noise. Thanks for any & all help!

 

If the noise is in the steering wheel itself it may be your column bearings going bad.. That's what I suspect is making noise in mine. Sort of a grinding noise that i can feel in the wheel when I turn sometimes.

 

Yes, it is in the steering wheel itself.

 

I agree the noise that you describe is not related to the fluid, however, I am an old timer and I always use trans fluid. PS fluid is trans fluid without the red color. It's just something they sell to suckers.

 

A Ford pump will make noise if you put off the shelf power steering fluid in it.
If you have put off the shelf power steering fluid in it get it out and replace it with type "F" transmission fluid.
Only use type "F" transmission fluid in those Ford PS pumps.

 

the noise you are speaking of may be the "clock spring" inside the steering wheel hub. You will be able to see if you remove the wheel

 

t24021994...
Like everyone else, I previously used F auto transmission fluid also. And every 2 or 3 years had to replace the box or the seals in the box because it was leaking. My last steering box change, because it leaked, I grabbed 2 qts of F fluid to put in it. The parts man asked if that was for my transmission, and I said no the steering. He said that unless I put power steering fluid in it my warranty would be void, in spite of a new pump and hoses also. I thought he was full of it, but got the "Prestone" power steering fluid. When I got home I checked it out on the computer.
Power steering operates in the 1200 to 1500lb pressure range, auto transmissions about half of that. The pressure in the power steering shears the molecules and causes the oil to break down and thus it leaks past the seals or deteriorates the seal. It was several years ago I did the replacement, and so far no leak,squeals, or groaning. I'd say you do some inquiries w/ your local Ford or parts places before you "F" up your fluids.

 

The Ford shop & owners manuals call for type "F" transmission fluid.
I have used type "F" transmission fluid in all of my Fords for the last 56 years and I have never replaced a PS pump in any of them. The only leaks I have had was the return hose deteriorating.
Maybe not all of my 15 or more Fords had a PS pumps but when they did I used type "F" transmission fluid.
As far as the oil braking down under pressure I use hydraulic oil about the same as transmission fluid in my bob cat the pressure in that is well over 1500lb and maybe as high as 4000lb and the oil does not break down.
For any oil to have a deteriorating effect the seal the seals would have to be made out of rubber. I do not think any US made PS Pump seals are made out of rubber.

I can see it if you are buying PS pumps made in china and maybe the seals in them are made of rubber.

 

Double post ???

 

just to make things a little more confusing ...

my 1993 ford shop manual specification is for "premium power steering fluid".
my 1994 owners manual recommends "ford premium power steering fluid" OR "an equivalent type f automatic transmission fluid with a ford registration number ...".

p.s. : i am a relative newcomer to f series ... only owned them for the last 5 years or so ... never had to replace a ps pump or , for that matter, even top-up the fluid; just relating what the manuals actually show. but when a guy with 56 years of ford experience says that the pumps will make noise running with power steering fluid, i make a mental note of it.