Hello to everyone. I just joined the site today but have used the site in the past for information. My question today has to do with the power steering pump. I have a 1988 F-150 with approx. 114,000 miles on it. I have owned the truck for two years. The past couple weeks I have noticed a loud whine like from the power steering pump. Check the fuid, it's OK. The high pressure hose is alright but the return hose appears to be leaking somewhat. My question is, does it sound like it's time for a new power steering pump or is there something else I should check first. Thanks for the help. This site is GREAT.

 

Well try replacing the return hose first and see. Although I have noticed that these pumps are notoriously noisey.

 

Better get used to the whine and groan! It givesthe truck character, ive had the whine for the last 150,000 miles and have learned to love it, theres ot much you can do about it. But if you're really worried about it you'll probably be replacin the pump.

 

yeah i think thats just the way they are. but as long as it works and you have power steering just learn to like that noise. mine is noisy to.
but it works!

 

That is a standard whine Sir - they pretty much all do it at one time or another. It seems to me that a couple of the listers here have stated that they used some Lucas oil for the PS pump and it seemed to quiet it down a little. I just learned to get used to the whine and I only hear it when the tunes are turned way down low.

Cheers!

Mike

 

If you want a really LOUD pump I'll sell you mine........



One of these days I'm going to put the Chevy Saginaw pump on the truck. All the Sags I have had are silent and they make way more pressure to boot. You would be suprised how much easier it steers through parking lots too.

 

I'd try a fluid flush and a bottle of Lucas first, seems to work for a lot of people on these forums, cheap and easy.

I tried the Lucas, helped a bit, but my pump was way far gone. I flushed the fluid, installed a new pump, 1 bottle of lucas and the rest new PS fluid. 100% quiet now in all conditions.

 

Go to the junk yard and get a saginaw pump,bracket and hoses off of a ford van (same engine size)and install it on your truck. It's quiet and works so much better, especially if you have bigger tires. It should only cost about 30-40 bucks and will take about 20 minutes to do the swap thats assuming you aren't good with a wrench about 10 if you are

 

I have had people tell me that there is a pump abailable that is the Saginaw pump but will mount directly on to Ford's mounting bracket. I have never seen one, but they say Kragen sells them. I guess its something you will have to find the part number yourself and go in there to ask for it. Otherwise you might get the guy at the counter all confused. Not sure if the hose is the same size or not, but if its not most hydraulic shops can easilly put a new fitting on it in a minutes time

 

i have an 88with 200,000 and it did the same thing. put a little lucas power steering conditioner in no problem for 65,000 miles

 

That's part of ford's better idea, you can always tell a ford's in a parking lot,it gives us ford drivers character.

 

Hope this helps. I would post a link but the board doesn't seem to like me posting links to other forums.

all info applies to serpentine belt EFI 302's and 351's. the brackets, pump and pulley are the same for both engines
-1st, what to get your pump from
look for ford vans. 1/2ton, 3/4 or 1 tons, its all the same.
theres is one funky year to watch out for though!
the 87 vans and broncos use a much different AC compresser mount, that i cannot see easily adapated to fit a 88 or newer truck.....
88 or later is the optimum year to look for, i have seen i think an 86 serpentine bel tthat i have pulled one from that worked the same.
-second, the tools you need for the pump removal

13MM 3/8's drive socket. alos a 13MM wench can be usefull. used for pulling AC compresser bolts from bracket on most of the vans

9/16's socket. 6 point preffered, 3/8's drive will do it, but half inch drive is better. a short socket works best due to lack of room wioth radiator/fan shroud not removed. used to remove the 3 bolts that hold the bracket to the block/head

9/16's wrench. used to remove the nut from the stud that holds the bracket to the block on 302 engines.
the 9/16's has also been used on the AC bracket on a few years

Hacksaw/diagonal cutters. used to cut AC hoses if compresser will not bend out of the way. also used for cutting low pressure hose on the PS pump. (you use your old hose on the swap)

5/8's line wrench. used to remove the HP hose from the steering box. on this note, i have run into a f ew issues here on removal. some dont come loose period, and some the fitting doesnt swivel on the line, and it twists off. this is where you have a hydraulci shop mate your bronco lower HP hose to the upper part of your saginaw HP hose. -------some vans the flare fitting is 11/16's. this is the wrong thread to go into a bronco box! try to avoid it if posible! i learned this almost the hard way on my bronco.

hammer- great for shock treatment of stuck bolts

pipe- great for extra leverage, also good for holding up the hood.

Vise grips- great for clamping on siezed HP hose fittings and then hitting the end of vice grip with the hammer to break it loose. also removes any other bolts/ washer or thing in the way to the pump

flat blade screwdriver. used to remove the airbox from the van and takign the hoses off the Throttle body so you can get to the pump.

10 mm socket. used to remove airbox tray. the tray can be worked aorund, BUT i always end up cutting/scrapping myself on it if i dont remove it.

so again, in recall watch out for 1987 van pumps, as the AC bracket is WAY different, and watch out for the HP line on some vans(dont know the year) on the steering box that is a 11/16s fitting


info on the pumps in general
-in general all the saginaw pumps are the same
-it does use a different pulley than your old pump, so be aware of that you cannot just switch the two
-some newer saginaws are metric bolts, so be aware if you try bolting them using your old hardware into your saginaw bracket(this is when you where to replace a bad van saginaw pump with a junkyard pump of another brand) newer chevys also use a funky shapped resivoir and are metric
-when replacing just a bad pump t ry to buy it with the resivoir if you can. brand new with resivoir is about $105. without the resiboir it is $45 or so, but believe me, it is not worth it! i tried two different rebuilt pumps, and i could not make either fit into the resivoir on the chevy i replaced the saginaw on this week.


ford install issues.
Yes, you need to run a longer serpentine belt! you "Can" make it fit qith a stock belt, but this is a tight fit and applying lots of extra side load ot your other accesories bearings(ALT, Water pump, Saginaw pump)

you need to drill out your AC compresser holes approx an 1/8th bigger i think. dont quote me on that, but it is only slightly bigger. just measure the new bolts to find out what size you nee to drill out your 4 ac holes.
The AC holes need to be rilled ince the saginaw pump AC hold down bolts are bigger diameter. the AC compresser drills out real easy though due to it being alluminum.

Some pumps have sensors on the HP hose. the 302 trucks, and the 302 vans have a sensor on the hose. it is a normally closed switch and all it does is bump the idle up when it senses heavy reistance to help keep the truck from dieing at idle. techinically you could run a 302 with apump from a 5.8(does not have senoser) and it would work fine, but may have a tendecny to die at idle with super hard strain on the pump. 3 solutions to that, have a hydro shop put the sensor off your old bronco hose onto you saginaw line, or buy a new hose for a 302 van, or just get your pump, brakcet, and hose form a van with a 302
for the 5.8's you can run a saginaw pump from a 302 or a 5.8 with no issues what so ever. the 5.8 does not use the sensor. so if you get a pump from a 302 and it has a sensor in the hose, just leave it unplugged and let it lay there out of the way



the install isntructions
-Remove your airbox hoses(makes it easier)
-remove the serpetine belt
-remove your low pressure line from the steering box, and let the old fluid drain out.
-while it is draining, disconnect the AC electrical connection that is for the magnetic clutch
-unbolt he 4 ac bolts
-"Flop" the AC compresser out of the way keeping the hoses connected
-unscrew the HP(high pressure) line at the steering box and let it drain out
-remove the 3 bolts that hold the bracket to the block. 302's i think use a 4th stud
-pull out the whole bracket and pump
-bolt the saginaw pump/bracket to the block
-connect your HP and LP hoses to the connect spot on the block. yuou use the van HP hose and fitting and put it into th ebronco steering box. for ht elow pressure how, just slide the rubber hose off the old ford pump, and clamp it down on the return line coing out of the saginaw pump. then put the hose back into the steering box. techinallyt you didnt have to remove the LP hose from the steering box, but i find it easier
-now its time to dr4ill out the AC compresser
-after its drilled, bolt it to the bracket
-plug in the AC electrical connection
-install the new aprox 1-1/5" longer serpentine belt(on the pre 93's, zilla has the belt number for the later ones, i will find it)
-fill your PS pump with fluid
-make shure everything is put on the truck and tightened(i leave the Airbox hoses off at this time)
start it up for about 10 seconds, then shut the truck off. go check/ refill the PS pump, also check to make shure there was no sign of major leakage
- start it again, and cycle the steering. i do this with the truck weight on it, but mine is hydro assist, and has lots of steering power. i recomend you have it on jackstands, or the draglink disconected, or roll the truck forewards oem while doing it.
- expect the pump to whine an dhowl some at you when you do this. if it gets real loud then your low on fluid.
- after cycling the steering, check/refill the pump with fluid. this is normal it goes down till all the air is bleed from th system.
-now let it run and check for any small laks from the pump, of any of the fittings/hose connections.
-put it all toghether, give it a drive or two around the block, and double check the steering fluid level again.


done, your steering swap is done.
expect about an hour to an hour and half to do the swap on your bronco if you are pretty mechnically inclined. adjust down or up of there based on your ability.
Nothing is hard about this, just takes a little time, and geting PS fluid all on your arms.

 

It sounds like somebody has put Power Steering Fluid in it, this will eventually make a loud whine. If so drain and flush it out and put what the Owners Manual calls for in it, "Type F" Transmission Fluid.
If it is too late for this pump then put "Type F" Transmission Fluid in the replacement pump.

 

I don't have a manual in front of me but isn't type F tranny fluid used in older F-150's? What years use what fluids?

 

Pump on my 89 F150 has been whining for 170,000 miles & works just fine. turn up the radio!