I've got a leak in the pressure line coming from my power steering pump. It's been like that for a while, but it's gotten much worse in the past week or so, so i'm finally about to replace it. The pump has always been noisy as hell, even though it works fine, but I figured I would try and do something about that while i'm working in that area. The fluid is dirty looking so i'm going to flush and replace it all no matter what, but I noticed AA had a rebuild kit for about 10 bucks: Powercraft Pump Complete Rebuild Kit 8527: Advance Auto Parts

Is a rebuild liable to make any more difference than just the flush, or would I just be wasting effort on something that doesn't need to be done? Like I said, i'm not having any performance issues, its just annoying to constantly hear that whine. Could I be overlooking something else thats causing it? I don't think its a pulley or bearing, the noise increases with the engine RPM but it also does just at idle when I turn the wheel.

Or am i just doomed to a noisy pump? I've read/heard several places that Ford power steering pumps are bad about making a racket in general.

 

That looks like a seal kit to me. Same thing I put in my pump, didn't quiet it down one bit nor did I expect it to. I just wanted it to stop leaking, which was successful.

Remember that pump takes transmission oil, NOT generic power steering fluid. I think the manual says to use Type F but I use Mercon and it seems to be a bit quieter.

Not all Ford pumps are noisy, just the model you have which is the C2 (properly noted as the CII) so what a lot of guys do is swap in a Saginaw pump from an E Van (Econoline series van) which still uses an integral reservoir but it's a completely different design. I plan on using the C3 pump one day, which uses an external reservoir and is also quiet. Will have to make custom mounts for it though. The Saginaw pump will bolt right in if you grab the bracket for it from the van you get it off of.