Steering noise
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2002
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Steering noise
Ok, at slow speeds, steering in my trucks emits a "Whirr" sound. Almost like the sound a DC Motor makes. It sounds pretty funny as you turn the wheel back and forth, whirr, whirr, whirr, whirr.
Gawd I wish I could explain this without sounding like an idiot!
Any thoughts?
Gawd I wish I could explain this without sounding like an idiot!
Any thoughts?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 146
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From: LaGrande, OR
Power steering fluid and type F tranny fluid are essentially the same thing. They are both basically hydraulic fluid. I use them interchangably in our farm equipment. Plus the PS fluid in my 1997 F-150 is red.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Saint John, N.B. Canada
What year truck? I had a 97 f-150 that had a leak, under warrenty, dealer replaced the pump. Then I had the same noise. Sounds like the pump is empty. They replaced the resevoir, no help. They replaced the pump again, still no help. They then said Ford considered the noise normal. I then replaced the truck. Noise fixed. Still driving f-150's, won't let them touch the power steering again. NorminN.B.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
Sounds like it's time to replace the P/S pump.
The newer ones dont whine nearly as often as the old style ones did but they still do sometimes.
The newer ones dont whine nearly as often as the old style ones did but they still do sometimes.
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does it squek only when the steering wheel is turned? Mine did the same. What all have you replaced on the front end?Ball joints?,tie rods?. I replaced them all and still had the noise till i replaced the idler arm, then it disappeared for good. It drove me nuts.lol
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Kabetogama, MN
I get exactly that same "whir" noise as was described. I have ruled out the pump. It seems somehow different that the noise you get with low fluid, but similar. I delt with that noise for nearlly 5 years in my 1991 F-150. This time I got the noise on my 1997 F-150. I figured something in the colum needed silicon greasing or something. Any additional insight would be greatly welcomed on this.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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my 98 does this same thing i have also found if you look at the power sterring res while some one turns the wheel you can see alot of air in the res its like the pump is "cavatating" (drawing in air) from some where but i cant see where it does not make sense i am going to put a pump on mine here in the next day or two i will let you guys know how it turns out
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,903
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From: Wyoming
I know that sound. My '01 F-150 made it all the time, until I changed out the steering pump. Seemed strange to have one go out at only 45K, but it cured the problem. I was used to changing them out after +100K miles.
The pump is separate from the steering fluid reservoir these days. When they handed me the new pump at the parts store I did a double take. "It's too small" I thought.
Pump cavitation is not from drawing in air. It's a problem of vapor coming out of solution in the 'eye' of the impeller, which isn't likely with steering fluid. IF air is being drawn into the pump, it's a problem, but it's not cavitation.
The pump is separate from the steering fluid reservoir these days. When they handed me the new pump at the parts store I did a double take. "It's too small" I thought.
Pump cavitation is not from drawing in air. It's a problem of vapor coming out of solution in the 'eye' of the impeller, which isn't likely with steering fluid. IF air is being drawn into the pump, it's a problem, but it's not cavitation.
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muddslinger88
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Feb 22, 2011 01:52 PM