Power steering issues...
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Power steering issues...
Hello,
I have a '96 Explorer 4 door XLT. This has been going on for a while now, but I'd like to figure out what's wrong.
Now, the issue is the fact that the power steering is really loud. It's not the pump... That went out on me two summers ago so I had to replace it. For the record, it was doing this before I changed it.
Any thoughts on what it could be? Do you guys need any more info?
Thanks,
-Tom
I have a '96 Explorer 4 door XLT. This has been going on for a while now, but I'd like to figure out what's wrong.
Now, the issue is the fact that the power steering is really loud. It's not the pump... That went out on me two summers ago so I had to replace it. For the record, it was doing this before I changed it.
Any thoughts on what it could be? Do you guys need any more info?
Thanks,
-Tom
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You may have a leaking line/hose... not leaking fluid but sucking in air. These setups are VERY sensitive to air and it doesn't take much to make it noisy.
Look for dampness on the P/S hoses where the lines are crimped onto them.
Good luck
Look for dampness on the P/S hoses where the lines are crimped onto them.
Good luck
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I'll try that in a bit... I'm taking it up to the cottage (where our heated shop is) to do some other work on it, so I figured I'd try and figure this out and do something with it. If I don't figure this out, I suppose I could wait a week or so to bring her up there... It would give me more snowmobiling time!
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The correct way to bleed it is to attack a vacuum attachment to the top of the resevoir, in place of the cap.. then using a manual vacuum pump pull full vacuum on it while idling and moving wheels back and forth for a couple minutes.
Also keep in mind even fully bled, ford P/S systems tend to be louder than others, you may be hearing normal noise.
Also keep in mind even fully bled, ford P/S systems tend to be louder than others, you may be hearing normal noise.
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I have heard another Explorer that was as loud as mine that was from around the same year, but I also have a buddy who had a '98 I think it was. His wasn't noisy...
One other thing is that, when I compare the amount of force needed to steer mine V. the '03 Explorer or the '04 Super Duty, mine is tough. The others are effortless. Mine isn't difficult, but it is noticeably harder to turn the wheel...
One other thing is that, when I compare the amount of force needed to steer mine V. the '03 Explorer or the '04 Super Duty, mine is tough. The others are effortless. Mine isn't difficult, but it is noticeably harder to turn the wheel...
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From: pacific northwest
When I swapped out the rack/pinion in my 96 Explorer it took about two or three days for the air to purge out of the steering system and for it to quiet down. I also had used a turkey baster to remove some of the fluid that looked like it had very tiny bubbles in it a replaced with new fluid...
Interesting also, is that when I had the brakes done last summer by my local garage, when they moved the wheels around by hand on the rack a bit of air was introduced into the system and that took about two days to settle out too.
Interesting also, is that when I had the brakes done last summer by my local garage, when they moved the wheels around by hand on the rack a bit of air was introduced into the system and that took about two days to settle out too.
Last edited by caseys; Feb 12, 2007 at 12:15 AM. Reason: work spelled wrong... (the instead of they)
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On these ford systems you CANNOT turn the wheels left to right or right to left with the engine off. This will 'suck' air into the PS system then it has to be rebled again. So the traditional method of bleeding (jacking wheels off the ground and steering lock to lock several times with engine off) will NOT work on this.
It may be worth investing into a handheld vacuum pump and the PS resevoir attachment, or paying a dealer to bleed this for you.
Good luck
It may be worth investing into a handheld vacuum pump and the PS resevoir attachment, or paying a dealer to bleed this for you.
Good luck
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: pacific northwest
...and this is what happened when my vehicle was at the local shop getting brakes done. The vehicle was up on the rack and the mechanic manually turned the front wheels right and left by hand from underneath as he worked on the brakes.
Question: does the system need to be bled or will the air eventually work its way out over time?
Question: does the system need to be bled or will the air eventually work its way out over time?