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Bleeding Saginaw Power Steering Pump

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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 12:14 AM
  #1  
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Bleeding Saginaw Power Steering Pump

I just finished bolting in all the new parts for my Saginaw power steering pump.

I need to go buy a longer belt in the morning... but after that I'll be ready to bleed the air out and go for a drive.

I searched threads all the way back to 2004 and still couldnt come up the best way do do it.

Wheels of the ground, on the ground, truck on, truck off, turn wheels... and some even said dont bleed it... that it would bleed itself.

What should I do?

Thanks
 
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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 01:27 AM
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What i have read on several places is: To fill it out, top the Steering Fluid (SF), then turn the engine on for a couple of seconds, then turn it off and fill again until the level of SF stops falling. Then after that just keep checking it for some days (air will be coming out so the SF will need to be completed again). This procedure was described for the intallation of a new/rebuilt steering box (which i just accomplished), so it should work for you just fine. I wouldn't worry too much.

So basically, yes, don't bleed it, the system will bleed itself. Also, when you fill the pump the engine should be off.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 06:57 AM
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Originally Posted by F3fitty
I just finished bolting in all the new parts for my Saginaw power steering pump.

Did you use the E series bracket or modify your existing one?
 
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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 07:05 AM
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Used the e series.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 09:48 AM
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I bled out the air with the tires of the ground turning the wheel side to side, first with the truck off then cranked it and did the same.

seemed to work OK at first then a mile down the road I lost all power steering. fluid level is full and power steering is not making any noise.

What could be my issue?

I think the new longer belt i put on could be a tiny bit too big. is seems to vibrate a little. could this be my issue?

Thanks
 
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Old Mar 5, 2011 | 01:09 PM
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When I first bought my '89 F150, it had sat in a barn for a number of years and the whine was unbelievably high pitch from the Ford C2 pump.

It whined for over a month but slowly got quieter and quieter as time went by of just driving the truck, level kepted going down some also as the noise was going away. I just kept adding fluid to it till finally it was completely quiet and level didn't go down no more.


It bled it's self out. You can do the same to yours.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2011 | 09:11 AM
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Any other ideas.... I feel like if there was air in it, it would be noisy. Its running almost silent but I still have little to no power steering. The reservoir is full and there are no leaks. I'm confused.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2011 | 09:43 PM
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^^^ TTT ^^^
 
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Old Mar 6, 2011 | 11:34 PM
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I didn't bleed my Saginaw. It worked perfect right out the box and still is one of my favorite mods.

I used type F trans fluid for it though.

Also I had to use a smaller belt when I did my swap.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2011 | 11:49 PM
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Yeah... I bled mine and a few bubbles came out. It is super quiet... And when it works its effortless but sometimes it gets jerky and cuts out.

I had to get a longer belt because the pulley was a little bigger. I just can't figure out why i lose power steering.

I used type F too
 
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Old Oct 3, 2015 | 06:57 AM
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did you ever figure out why you lost steering. I know this is an old thread but I am replacing a pump that is off a 77/78 400 in my 55 f-100. I have also been looking at you tube and it looks like all the insides are the same on the Saginaw which is good.
 
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