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1985 F150 302.
Looking for some advice on what to do with my noisy power steering pump. Its starting to annoy me as its pretty loud when I turn either way. Fluid level is good but it could very well be the original fluid. There are really no Bullnose trucks in my area still driving around so I have nothing to compare to for what is a normal amount of noise from these trucks. So where should I start with this:
1. Adding some kind of additive to the fluid to quiet it down? If so what is recommended?
2. Replacing the fluid. Is sucking out the reservoir sufficient or do I need to flush the system out somehow?
3. or just replace the pump? It seems to be working perfectly fine but maybe the whine is a sign that its on the way out.
1. Adding some kind of additive to the fluid to quiet it down? If so what is recommended?
2. Replacing the fluid. Is sucking out the reservoir sufficient or do I need to flush the system out somehow?
3. or just replace the pump? It seems to be working perfectly fine but maybe the whine is a sign that its on the way out.
Others may disagree, but I don't think items 1 or 2 will do anything to stop the whine. I just installed a new (reman) pump in my '84, and it is quiet.
I think that power steering whine is just the sound of an old Ford.
Others may disagree, but I don't think items 1 or 2 will do anything to stop the whine. I just installed a new (reman) pump in my '84, and it is quiet.
I think that power steering whine is just the sound of an old Ford.
I think you guys are right. I might as well just replace it. Any special tools needed to swap them out on these trucks?
Rembrant I might PM you as well. Was just reading your signature with your engine mods. Curious how much it woke up your 302.
Fords are known for noisy power steering pumps. You could try sucking the fluid out and replacing it, there is the slim possiblilty it may help. Most of the noise comes from air that is locked into the fluid. Ford used to have a special procedure were they would put this vacuum device on the reservoir after the cap was removed, and put a vacuum on the fluid to help get the air bubbles out.
If you want to just replace the pump, you will need a special pulley removal and installer tool. You can rent these from the local parts stores who have a rental program. Usually the way that works, you go in and buy the tool, and then when you bring it back in good condition they give you your money back. You can't use a regular puller on these pumps, it puts too much side load on the pump and ruins it, and it also bends the pulley.
IMO: The OP should take the old pump to an auto parts store that has a machine shop to have the P/S pulley pressed off, then pressed onto the new (rebuilt) pump.
Attempting to remove the pulley using a puller isn't all that difficult, but pressing it back on is. If the pulley gets bent, lotsa luck finding a replacement.
This is the Ford C-II P/S pump that was introduced in 1978 on everything except cars with Hydro-Boost and Econolines. Used well into the 1990's.
IMO: The OP should take the old pump to an auto parts store that has a machine shop to have the P/S pulley pressed off, then pressed onto the new (rebuilt) pump.
Attempting to remove the pulley using a puller isn't all that difficult, but pressing it back on is. If the pulley gets bent, lotsa luck finding a replacement.
This is the Ford C-II P/S pump that was introduced in 1978 on everything except cars with Hydro-Boost and Econolines. Used well into the 1990's.
The pulley cannot be pressed off. There is a special tool you can rent, it grabs the pulley around that groove on the snoot of the pulley. It then presses against the center shaft to push the pulley off. Without this special tool that grabs the groove, you cannot get the pulley off, or like you said you cannot get it back on either.
Change the fluid and add a bottle of LubeGuard Power Steering Fluid and Protectant. It's cheap, and if that doesn't fix it, nothing will. I have fixed some of the worst sounding pumps imaginable with this and a fluid change. My old Aerostar being the worst.
The packaging has changed, but it will be in one of these bottles. Some will scoff, but for $5.99, what have you got to lose? It definitely works.
The pulley cannot be pressed off. There is a special tool you can rent, it grabs the pulley around that groove on the snoot of the pulley. It then presses against the center shaft to push the pulley off. Without this special tool that grabs the groove, you cannot get the pulley off, or like you said you cannot get it back on either.
I had to press mine off, but that was only after I cut the shaft off...lol. I bought the proper PS pulley remover/installer tool, but between the rust and being 34 years old, I could not get the pulley to budge. The tool just did not have enough pressing power to budge the pulley. I carefully put the whole pump in a chop saw, and brought the disk down behind the pulley. This cut the shaft off nicely, but it also cut the snout of the pump off too. Once I had the pulley removed, I put it in a hydraulic press, and pressed what was left of the shaft out. I must say, that is a tight fit. Anyway, I sand blasted the pulley, painted it black, and then pressed it on the new pump using the proper pulley too.
I bought a reman pump on Rockauto complete with reservoir, and it wasn't all that much. I also bought a new cap, and both pressure and return lines. It's running nice and quiet now, but I only have maybe 500 miles on it.
I think you guys are right. I might as well just replace it. Any special tools needed to swap them out on these trucks?
Rembrant I might PM you as well. Was just reading your signature with your engine mods. Curious how much it woke up your 302.
In it's original trim, I believe my 1984 302 made 135 HP and 250 ft/lbs torque. Now, rebuilt with the GT40 heads etc, it made 300 HP and 335 ft/lbs torque. It was kind of a budget build, if there is such a thing. Even using the cheaper stuff, I spent way more on it than I wanted to...lol. I'm still working the bugs out of it...timing and choke mostly, but otherwise it is working really nicely, and as of yesterday getting 16.5 MPG on the highway. I'm pretty happy with that, and I can probably tweak things a little further to improve it. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
If you can turn the wheel from stop to stop and there are no hard spots and no play in the wheel perhaps the cheapest fix is replacing the fluid and see if that fixes it. If you're still squealing try the additives. Search Chris fix ford power steering on youtube. I don't remember the product name he added but it did seem to quiet the pump.
Mine is quiet as a mouse on my 6.9l diesel. Haven't done a thing to it...works great.
Mine used to whine really bad. I changed all the fluid out with Lucas Power Steering Fluid Stop Leak. Probably 9:1 Lucas to ATF. I don't think it's the way it was meant to be used, but it stopped the whine and it's been working just fine for a good while now.
Change the fluid. flush and refill with Type F trans fluid . Using Dexron/Mercon or generic P/S fluid will cause them to whine and damage the system. If it still wines after the fluid change replace the pump. I have never had a Ford P/S system whine unless the pump was toast. Also I have cured many that whined due to being filled with the improper fluid.
Type F is the P/S fluid to use in all Fords prior to 96/98, use nothing else.
I think I will start with just changing the fluids and make sure that I use the correct stuff. Its worth a shot and doesn't cost a whole lot. The steering is still smooth, its just the noise. Then if that doesn't work I will change the pump out. I'm in Canada so I am not seeing the Lubegard power steering additive at any of the local places but i'm sure I can find something similar if I look hard enough. If it comes down to changing the power steering pump I would hope that my local Ford dealership would have the pulley removal tool and I could get them to swap it to the new pump.
Mine used to whine really bad. I changed all the fluid out with Lucas Power Steering Fluid Stop Leak. Probably 9:1 Lucas to ATF. I don't think it's the way it was meant to be used, but it stopped the whine and it's been working just fine for a good while now.
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