Hello all! Im pulling my hair out over here- I have an issue where my power steering pump will squeal the belt when i try to turn the wheels in areas like parking lots etc.when the truck is moving slow or not at all. The belt is new and tight and fluid is full, when i had my wife turn the wheel for me the other day i can actually see the pulley stop turning momentarily off and on (which causes the belt to squeal). does anyone know from experience where i can start? Is my pump worn out? Just in case there are different models, my pump lines flow directly into the gearbox, its not one of those old assisting ram types. Thank you.

 

Please clarify your truck' s year, model, and configuration (2WD vs 4WD). Your avatar is a Bumpside and this is the Dentside forum.

Sounds to me like there is air trapped in the system or you're going full steering lock and cutting off the pump flow. Don't do that!!!!!

In fact, ya might want to adjust the steering stops if on a 4WD.

 

belt in this photo was wrong width- correct belt is installed currently

sorry for the lack of detail- The truck is in fact a 71 4WD- However, the guy I bought it from said he put a 76 power steering gearbox and pump in the truck(which is why i used this forum). its not happening when the truck is turned at full left or right... it does it even if the tires are perfectly straight and you try to turn the wheel without the truck moving.
Dont pay attention to the belt in the photos- it was the wrong width- the correct belt is currently installed.

 

Please, when asking questions, list ALL the pertinent info, we are not mind readers!

F100/150 4WD:

1976 was the first year that F100/150 4WD's were available with Ford/Saginaw integral P/S.

1973/75 F100 4WD & 1975 F150 4WD used Garrison Power Assist P/S. No P/S was available in F100/250 4WD prior to 1973.
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1973/76 F250 4WD; 1977 F250 4WD before serial number Y20,001:

These F250 4WD's used Power Assist P/S, the manual steering gearbox was used, because it had nothing to do with the Power Assist.

1967/77 FoMoCo vehicles (except 1972/77 Passenger Cars with Hydro-Boost & 1975/77 Econoline) used the Ford/Thompson P/S pump that has a steel reservoir.

The P/S pressure hose threads onto the pump.

 

the truck is a f-100, unfortunately the previous owner never mentioned if the doner truck was a f-100 or f-250, the power steering pump lines feed directly into the gear box so its not a power assist unit. With my symptoms anyone have experience which item should/might be the culprit?

 

Axle Ujoint froze up ? Jack the front off the ground and knock that steering gear off the pitman arm and try to cycle the linkage from stop to stop. Maybe something is binding. Figure out which it is, something in the steering or something in pump or box.

 

What Mark said. First make sure that nothing in the system is binding up to put extra pressure against the pump.

But too, the way the pump is installed, not only in an unusual bracket for that type of pump (I believe) but it's also using washers, spacers, longer bolts and all manner of interesting stuff. Perhaps it's flexing when under load and the belt is losing some tension.
The problem with a p/s pump is that the noises can be either a belt slipping, OR the pump itself. Whether air in the system, cavitating for some design reason, or some other hydraulic mischief going on inside, there is not just one reason they make noise.
Although the different noises they make can give a clue as to the source. You just have to have the experience to hear the differences sometimes.

If you're not sure yourself, maybe a video of the noise for those here that have long experience with the pump can pick up on the reason.
In fact, if there is any way you can point a video camera on the pump and move the wheel through a little motion may let you know if there is any funky-monkey motion going on.

I'm more familiar with the '78 and '79 power steering bracket/adjuster, so yours may very well be a stock bracket for your engine and year. It's just not familiar to me.
What engine is that by the way?

Good luck.

Paul

 

Thank you! You are very correct in the fact that it appears someone emptied out their entire junk drawer to get that pump on the truck. the engine is a 460 out of the same 1976 doner truck that the power steering, and power brakes came from. I will disassemble the front and move the linkage by hand this weekend. You have me wondering now if maybe that pump is off a car or something small? i dont know, when my wife turns the wheel for me it doesnt appear to flex in the mount, however the pulley literally stops and starts turning again as the tires are turning side to side, and that is what is causing my squeal. like the pump cant push the pressure and stops... all great information and thought starters from everyone. i really appreciate it! ill get to troubleshooting..

 

ok- i disconnected my gearbox and manually moved the steering linkage full left to right... moved smooth as butter. Now... is there any way of troubleshooting which item (pump or gearbox) would be the item worn out?

 

Since it is hydraulic, you can check the low pressure return. This will be the line coming back to the pump from the gearbox. When turning the wheels WHILE motor is running, have someone look at the pump with the lid off. You should be able to see oil returning to the pump. If this is not visible, have a container handy and disconnect the return line. When turning the wheels WHILE motor is running, oil should be coming back through return line. If not, you have narrowed it down to pump or gearbox. Make sure to re-connect return line. Next, remove high pressure supply line WHILE engine is not running. Have container handy. Start engine. If oil is not coming out of supply line, your pump is not working. Make sure to re-connect your supply line. If these check out, you may want to bleed out the air. To do this, place truck on jacks, remove tires. With the engine running, move the steering from side to side. With the wheels off, this give maximum movement for the front end, which will expel the air out of you steering. Make sure to have oil to add if necessary.

 

1973/79 F100/350 460 only available with 2WD which means that the previous owner somehow managed to install 2WD parts including the steering gear box on your F100 that has 4WD

The Ford/Thompson P/S pump is basically the same for all 1967/77: Ford Passenger Cars (except with 1972/77's with Hydro-Boost), F100/250 2WD/4WD & F350, 1973/74 Econolines and 1973/77 Bronco's.

This pump has a steel reservoir, the P/S pressure hose threads onto the pump.

 

Great. That means that all of your ball joints, rod ends, u-joints and associated junk is working well. Of course, there could still be worn out parts that are loose, but at least you know it's not part of the binding.

This is pretty straightforward, as the box itself it purely mechanical (for it's part) so if you turn the wheel slowly from full lock to full lock with the linkage disconnected you should be able to feel any binding that is mechanical in nature with the box.
I'm pretty sure it's as simple as that, although with the hydraulic nature of the assist, I don't know if there is anything in the box itself that could be fine when no pressure is applied, but go wonky once you get hydraulic pressure inside. Something like the torsion-bar being broken perhaps, or some debris partially blocking a port or something along those lines.
But at least if it's smooth you'll know it's not all busted up inside.

Check that and report back, and maybe if it's ok there someone here monitoring your thread will know what to try next.
Sounds like espy is familiar with pumps and such, so might have more info still, once you determine the box itself is not binding.

Paul

 

I had the same problem with my 79 f 150. It was air locked. The same pump and steering box. You are going to have to bleed the system and do alot of cussing as you do. The cussing wont help but will make you feel better. That box is notorious for trapping air in the top and even more notorious for being hard to bleed out.. Pick up about a gallon of power steering fluid. disconnect the low pressure line and put it in a gallon jug. have some one start the truck. at idle turn the wheels left to right as you ad fluid it should purge the air. If it has the cooling line across the cross member ditch it and do a direct low pressure return. That line traps air and moisture. My son actually Hydro locked his gear box while mudding his truck. It too 2.5 gallons of power steering fluid and loosening the worm gear adjustment on top of the box to get it to purge the water. (tip: the cap on that pump is not water tight.

 

Thank you! I'm on it!!!! ill report back soon.

 

Hi Bill, Im new today to the site so please bear with me. Inherited a 1975 F150, 360 2WD that im looking to install power assist PS for my 16yr old son. Having trouble as local mechanics here in Santa Fe NM haven't done this before. Any thoughts on how and where to get parts for conversion, thanks T Farr