Power Steering Gone
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
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Power Steering Gone
Hi All,
Recently, while driving my 1986 F250, my power steering stopped working. By that I mean the belt is still attached, the power steering fluid is full and there are no grinding noise, but yet I am having to pull the steering wheel like it is a 7000 pound truck with no power steering.
Has anyone else had this happen before? My immediate thought is to replace the power steering gearbox, but could it be something else? I remember hearing somewhere there was a valve on the pump or gearbox that would clog up and need to be rebuilt?
Thanks,
h.ubk
Recently, while driving my 1986 F250, my power steering stopped working. By that I mean the belt is still attached, the power steering fluid is full and there are no grinding noise, but yet I am having to pull the steering wheel like it is a 7000 pound truck with no power steering.
Has anyone else had this happen before? My immediate thought is to replace the power steering gearbox, but could it be something else? I remember hearing somewhere there was a valve on the pump or gearbox that would clog up and need to be rebuilt?
Thanks,
h.ubk
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
Since you do not know what the problem is, I would start with the easiest first and replace the pump. You will need to get a special puller (you can buy one from Harbor Freight or rent one from the store) to pull the pulley off and replace it. The pulley is in front of the mounting bracket.
If that doesn't fix it the only thing left is the steering box of course. It's much more difficult to change out. The main problem is getting the pitman arm off the bottom shaft of the box. You may have to take it somewhere and pay someone to do that for you.
If that doesn't fix it the only thing left is the steering box of course. It's much more difficult to change out. The main problem is getting the pitman arm off the bottom shaft of the box. You may have to take it somewhere and pay someone to do that for you.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 1,174
I tried one of those HF pullers and it didn't work very well. Most HF tools are fine (for what they are) but not this one. It barely gripped the groove on the pulley, and would slip off under pressure. It has a two-piece collar secured loosely by a sleeve.
Here's the one NOT to get:
https://www.harborfreight.com/pulley...-pc-63068.html
I ended up getting a Lisle 39000 and it was like night and day. The collar halves are clamped together with bolts:
https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-...-pulley-puller
Amazon has it for about half of the Lisle list price.
Back to the original problem, is there a way to test the pump without some fancy pressure gauge? What if you loosened the output line fitting a turn or two and wrapped a rag around it? Run the engine briefly and see if fluid squirts out under pressure. Just a thought, no idea if it would help.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 129
From: Atlantic Canada
Of the three C2 power steering pumps I've played around with, the pulley puller kit only worked on one. The other two were seized/rusted...and I ended up cutting the shaft off behind the pump, and then put the pulley in the press to push the shaft stub out. It was crude, but it worked.
The pitman arms can be a bear too...helps if you heat them.
Even the three steering box bolts...they can seize with rust inside the frame. Been there, done that too.
I love rust!
New power steering lines are cheap too, so if you're replacing the pump, etc...throw some new lines on as well.
The pitman arms can be a bear too...helps if you heat them.
Even the three steering box bolts...they can seize with rust inside the frame. Been there, done that too.
I love rust!
New power steering lines are cheap too, so if you're replacing the pump, etc...throw some new lines on as well.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 472
Likes: 105
Sounds like the relief valve inside the pump is stuck open relieving all pressure.
if you start the engine and turn the wheels all the way one direction what happens?
this is the point the pump usually works hard and the relief valve dumps. Working the steering on and off this point might clear the relief valve.
if you start the engine and turn the wheels all the way one direction what happens?
this is the point the pump usually works hard and the relief valve dumps. Working the steering on and off this point might clear the relief valve.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to start with the pump. I'm going to order replacement power steering lines since those are fairly cheap and they are now probably 37 years old. I'll order the Lisle 39000 since I know it works on the pulley.
Is the power steering return line just the bulk hose? Sorry, I would look but the truck is in another state right now.
If I have replaced the power steering lines and the pump, then it would have to be either the gearbox or the pittman arm or linkages. I can't see it being the pittman arm or linkages because the truck does drive respectably if you pull the wheel hard. I would suspect if one of those was rusted or seized that it simply wouldn't move in a certain way.
If it helps, I did recently replace some fluid in the pump (possibly ATF) with power steering fluid. I didn't realize until later it was supposed to just use ATF.
Also, this experience did happen after the truck sat for winter which makes me think something probably rusted or seized.
h.ubk
Is the power steering return line just the bulk hose? Sorry, I would look but the truck is in another state right now.
If I have replaced the power steering lines and the pump, then it would have to be either the gearbox or the pittman arm or linkages. I can't see it being the pittman arm or linkages because the truck does drive respectably if you pull the wheel hard. I would suspect if one of those was rusted or seized that it simply wouldn't move in a certain way.
If it helps, I did recently replace some fluid in the pump (possibly ATF) with power steering fluid. I didn't realize until later it was supposed to just use ATF.
Also, this experience did happen after the truck sat for winter which makes me think something probably rusted or seized.
h.ubk
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
The power steering fluid will work too, you didn't hurt it by doing that.
If you were suspecting the linkages, you could knock them loose with a pickle fork (this usually ruins the grease boot) or this other nifty device. Of course both are sold at harbor freight. And yes, the return line is just bulk hose with hose clamps. I try to get fuel grade line when I buy it for this. Your return hose should hook to a metal line that loop d loops on the front of the crossmember. This is the factory's little oil cooler. They like to rust out and leak, so eyeball it and see what kind of shape it's in.
Here's the pickle fork.
Here's the other nifty little piece. I always dismissed this thing as something that would never work, till I saw someone on youtube using it. I bought one and it's great. Just watch out when things break loose, it goes flying sometimes.
If you were suspecting the linkages, you could knock them loose with a pickle fork (this usually ruins the grease boot) or this other nifty device. Of course both are sold at harbor freight. And yes, the return line is just bulk hose with hose clamps. I try to get fuel grade line when I buy it for this. Your return hose should hook to a metal line that loop d loops on the front of the crossmember. This is the factory's little oil cooler. They like to rust out and leak, so eyeball it and see what kind of shape it's in.
Here's the pickle fork.
Here's the other nifty little piece. I always dismissed this thing as something that would never work, till I saw someone on youtube using it. I bought one and it's great. Just watch out when things break loose, it goes flying sometimes.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
I figured I would update this thread since I hate searching these and finding no solution specified. I bought a generic rebuilt power steering pump and replacement supply and return lines and swapped them. The power steering is working now as good as it ever did.
h.ubk
h.ubk
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 130
Likes: 31
well glad you figured it out and it works like new. One thing I would have suggested in the whole process would have been the kingpins it's always good to make sure there lobed and not stiff
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