Quiet Down Power Steering Pump

[crookshanks]

I know Ford power steering pumps are usually a little noisy, but is there any way to fix this? Any additive to put in the pump or something. Mine works fine and is not excessivalu noisy as if it were dying or anything, I would just like to quiet it down a little bit.

I guess I am just being a little to picky, oh well...

Thanks!

 

[Linc97]

Mine makes noise so irregularly that I hate to even mess with it. Sounds like a groaning when turning right, but only happens sporadically and usually always within minutes of starting up.

 

[American Air-1]

Noise on those pumps are considered normal by Ford. When that type of pump first came out years ago, I changed a bunch of them with no change because customers were complaining. Only to have Ford send out bulletins later saying it was normal.

Be careful what kind of additive you put in there. A good bit of the power steering line on those cars is rubber and are designed for power steering fluid only. Some fluids (brake fluid) may cause the rubber to deteriorate over time and require replacing the lines prematurely.

Replacing those lines isn't the hardest thing I've ever done before, but the first few I did made me ill! On a 3.8, its a tight fit.

In other words, if its not too bad....LIVE WITH IT.

 

[purelux]

You can change the fluid out for somthing like mobil atf, I did. It stopped my slow leak and quieted the pump and eased steering effort some as well. And yes it is atf and not powersteering fluid. Which is why most owners manuals say atf and not powersteering, which I've heard is about the same but a lower viscosity than atf. You can either disconnect the lines and drain out old and put in new until its kicking out clean. Or suck out the fluid from the resevoir bit by bit until you end up with clear.

 

[American Air-1]

Power steering fluid and "F Type" transmission fluid is the same.

 

[purelux]

They may well be but according to the data sheets (on Pennzoil) there are differences to nearly every measurement to some degree.

The only car any vehicle in our family has had asking for type-f and powersteering fluid was a 93 taurus sho. Everything else, nearly all fords were asking for ATF. 83 T-bird, 88 buick lesabre, 93 olds ciera, 91 5.0 tbird, 93 crown vic, 98 towncar, 99 sable, 97 continental, 2000 moutaineer 5.0