I have a '96 F-150 Supercab 2WD 4.9L Inline 6. According to the Ford dealership, when the Power Steering Pump is "growling" It's time to replace it. Now I'm a Paramedic in Va. And our BRAND NEW Ambulances (2004 E-450 Superduty PowerStroke Diesel) growl the same way as my truck, especially when you lock the wheels right or left. Is this true or is the Ford Dealer trying to make me buy unnescceray parts. I'm not losing any Power steering fluid or anything. Just trying to make sure I'm not getting hustled. -Joe

 

If it works and it doesn't loose fluid then I don't see a reason to replace it. If it does go, it's not going to leave you stranded, you can still drive with manual steering it's just a lot harder. You didn't say how many miles you had but 96 can't be too bad. I'd would be willing to bet it's fine. Most dealerships are after people that don't know what they are doing. My cousin has a rodeo that a dealership wanted 400 bucks to fix an exhaust leak. Midas did it for 91 bucks.

 

I fully agree with MustangGT221 on this one. If it's not leaking and is working, leave it alone. These C2 pumps are notoriously loud. If a pump is quiet and on a Ford, the belt probably came off.

 

I agree with Charlez. If you can't hear it, you must've lost the belt. The only pump I know of that's quiet is a Super Pump, which are pretty expensive and require the saginaw brackets to mount. Any dealer worth his s**t will tell you ford power steering pumps are known to be loud, don't worry about it until it fails or starts leaking.


Yelrihseam

 

I agree. They are loud. Get used to it. HOWEVER I have read that if you turn the wheel to either end and hold it there for more than two seconds, it will destroy your pump so I wouldn't do that too much if I were you.