P.S. pumps

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 25, 2003 | 09:32 PM

Tugboat Joe

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 20

Likes: 0

From: Vancouver Island, West Coast Canada

P.S. pumps

It seems the power steering pumps on the late 80's and early 90's 351's are always noisy. I've put on a new one and there seems to be no difference. Is there a way to quiet them down, oil additive or different type of oil, or, (god forbid!) does a guy have to figure out how to use a chevy pump!

Aug 26, 2003 | 12:59 AM

90f150moneypit

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,061

Likes: 0

From: Still under the hood in O

P.S. pumps

Strange!
Mine doesn't make a peep (knock on wood). Are you sure the air is completely out of the system (no foaming)?

Aug 26, 2003 | 08:25 AM

Wodman

New User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

P.S. pumps

Same problem here. 1989 351 Bronco and it is noisy as hell. I replaced it with a brand new one and the new one said right on the box that the noise is normal. What's up with that?

Aug 26, 2003 | 08:26 AM

Wodman

New User

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

P.S. pumps

By the way 90f150moneypit, he said 351's ... your sig says 302.

Aug 26, 2003 | 10:00 AM

90f150moneypit

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,061

Likes: 0

From: Still under the hood in O

P.S. pumps

Actually Ford pump's in general have this problem. We had an '80 Mustang that did the same thing. After replacing it twice we were told to bleed the system extremely well. I thought back then all you had to do was leave the cap off for a while and let it run. A friend of ours was a Ford driveability (sp?) tech. So on the third pump we took it to him to install and bleed the system for us. Worked great. Apparently as the air in the system runs for too long (cavitates) without getting it out, it will damage the bearing. That is what you hear when it whines, the bearing not getting lubrication (or at one time). And as we all know once the bearing is damaged and starts whining, the only fix is replacement. The new ones say this is normal because it doesn't take much to damage the bearing enough to make noise. This is what I was told about 15 years ago, exactly how true it is, I'm not sure. But every since then I have not let the fluid get low enough to start whining, and haven't replaced a pump since.