Power Steering Gear Failure?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 11
From: Townsend, MT
Power Steering Gear Failure?
Yesterday I had to go pull a buddy out that was stuck in the snow. There was 10 - 12 inches of snow but it was crusted so hard that my 8,500 pound F350 on pizza cutters was driving on top of the snow just fine - until I fell through that is. I ended up having to chain up all 4 corners and still had to dig and chew to barely crawl out. In the process, my power steering quit. I had no assist at all. I figured I blew a line.
When I got out of the mess (with two nearly broken thumbs) I popped the hood expecting to see an oil mess (which I saw, just not due to a blown power steering line) but instead, the power steering pump was full of oil. All the lines look good. The pump is new in that last 5,000 miles (yes, it is turning).
Could I have blown an internal seal in the gearbox or something?
When I got out of the mess (with two nearly broken thumbs) I popped the hood expecting to see an oil mess (which I saw, just not due to a blown power steering line) but instead, the power steering pump was full of oil. All the lines look good. The pump is new in that last 5,000 miles (yes, it is turning).
Could I have blown an internal seal in the gearbox or something?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
What did the oil mess come from?
Did it get on the belt that drives the PS pump?
At one point my water pump was leaking badly and dripping on the pulleys, I lost power steering since the belt was just slipping on the pulley.
Also possible that the piston seals in the PS gear went, but check out the belt situation first.
Did it get on the belt that drives the PS pump?
At one point my water pump was leaking badly and dripping on the pulleys, I lost power steering since the belt was just slipping on the pulley.
Also possible that the piston seals in the PS gear went, but check out the belt situation first.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 78
just casual observation
Q "What did the oil mess come from?"
A "4BTA"
Q "Did it get on the belt that drives the PS pump?"
A "almost certainly"
but that may not be the problem
totally a guess .. but it's probably the new pump ..
it's just hit or miss with new things sometimes unfortunately
case in point // i usually steer clear of o'ryilies .. but they offered a very good price on a lifetime warranty mitsu starter ..
glad i got the warranty .. also glad i kept the receipt .. and wished they're built them with some quality control so i wouldn't need to use it ..
first one failed .. slow cranking .. for no apparent reason after maybee 8 mos. .. i didn't misuse it .. i use ether so it was worked easy
the second one tried to eat up my flywheel .. i took it off to shim it .. and looked at the engaging gear .. not machined properly at all .. not pointy at the end .. way too flat .. 5 minutes and my cutoff wheel later .. i finished the job they overlooked at the factory ..
i should have and will stay with advance auto for warranty stuff when possible .. or buy the best stuff i can from rockauto .. and hope for the best
Q "What did the oil mess come from?"
A "4BTA"
Q "Did it get on the belt that drives the PS pump?"
A "almost certainly"
but that may not be the problem
totally a guess .. but it's probably the new pump ..
it's just hit or miss with new things sometimes unfortunately
case in point // i usually steer clear of o'ryilies .. but they offered a very good price on a lifetime warranty mitsu starter ..
glad i got the warranty .. also glad i kept the receipt .. and wished they're built them with some quality control so i wouldn't need to use it ..
first one failed .. slow cranking .. for no apparent reason after maybee 8 mos. .. i didn't misuse it .. i use ether so it was worked easy
the second one tried to eat up my flywheel .. i took it off to shim it .. and looked at the engaging gear .. not machined properly at all .. not pointy at the end .. way too flat .. 5 minutes and my cutoff wheel later .. i finished the job they overlooked at the factory ..
i should have and will stay with advance auto for warranty stuff when possible .. or buy the best stuff i can from rockauto .. and hope for the best
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 11
From: Townsend, MT
I can assure you that the pump is turning as it is gear driven from the gear case - so no, oil did not get on the belt driving the power steering pump. The oil mess is from my last go-around with the power steering pump and lines - I just haven't had time to clean it up.
The power steering pump is a saginaw, which are pretty bullet proof (as long as you keep them full of oil). Any way to tell if it is the pump or the gear without hooking a pressure gauge up to the pump?
The power steering pump is a saginaw, which are pretty bullet proof (as long as you keep them full of oil). Any way to tell if it is the pump or the gear without hooking a pressure gauge up to the pump?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
Sorry, I missing that you had a 4bta... I was assuming it was a stock 7,3 IDI setup...
I'll second a saginaw being a good pump, but its always possible it failed due to a defect. I would imagine you'd need a pressure gauge to figure that out though. I wonder if the pressure regulator thing failed? It screws into the pump, then the pressure line screws into the pressure thingy.
What does the fluid look like?
I'll second a saginaw being a good pump, but its always possible it failed due to a defect. I would imagine you'd need a pressure gauge to figure that out though. I wonder if the pressure regulator thing failed? It screws into the pump, then the pressure line screws into the pressure thingy.
What does the fluid look like?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
My Q&D test would be to remove the pressure line from the gear box, point it into a bucket, and crank the engine for just a second or two, and see if fluid pumps out. Key off, so you don't inadevertently start the engine. If you're using the stock Ford starter relay on the fender, then a remote starter switch on the relay will do the trick.
Re. the 4BTA, far too many users on far too many forums put complete drivel in their signatures, resulting in a lot of users opting not to view them. Plus, a lot of mobile forum accesses don't show signatures. Therefore it's important to post anything out-of-the-ordinary in the opening post, esp. since the theme of this section is the IDI engine.
Re. the 4BTA, far too many users on far too many forums put complete drivel in their signatures, resulting in a lot of users opting not to view them. Plus, a lot of mobile forum accesses don't show signatures. Therefore it's important to post anything out-of-the-ordinary in the opening post, esp. since the theme of this section is the IDI engine.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
I'm just trying to brainstorm things that could be wrong, but I'm not sure if there is some easy way to tell what failed without doing like you said and hook a gauge in.
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