Vehicle - 1989 Ford F-150 Lariat in-line 6 manufactured 6/89

Problem - burning up power steering pumps.

History - Noticed strange clicking noise. Inspected engine, locating (1)leakage at power steering shaft, (2) power steering fluid adequate but very dirty and (3) rubber dust around power steering pump indicating serpentine belt was wearing. Replaced power steering pump, related return hose (brittle) and serpentine belt.

Attempted to flush system by placing front suspension on jacks, plugging return inlet on power steering unit, placing power steering return hose in receptacle. Turned engine over to run at idle, but power steering pump made excessive noise. Thought it would quite down (since instructions said it would be initially noisy), but didn't and, in fact, it started smoking and seized up.

Received 2nd pump, set up for flushing, this time made same noise, but we immediately turned wheel left and right (stop before stop), then unit quited down. Continued turning wheel left and right with a minimal amount of used fluid draining from return hose. Reconnected return hose and turned wheel left and right (approx. 30 times) to bleed system. No bubbles. Dropped vehicle and took out for a spin around the block. Turning was difficult. After going maybe 1/4 mile, 2nd new pump made same loud noise. Drove maybe 500 feet to get truck back in driveway. Pump smoking. Check today and measure stick on filler cap melted and almost ready to fall off.

Removed belt and was able to still turn pump (due to heat, I still plan on replacing pump). Disconnected both pressurized and return lines. Applied 30 lbs pressure to pressurized line, got no fluid out of return line. Applied 20 lbs suction to return line, return line started to compress and no fluid retrieved from power steering unit.

Options - The only two things I can think of is:
1. I didn't have the pulley wheel set at .010 in. from end of shaft. Possible result is pump bearings forced against inner bearing wall creating friction and resulting heat OR
2. Assuming you should be able put pressure on one end of the steering unit, fluid should flow out of the return line. This in effect possibly means something is plugging up the oil lines.

Request - Can anyone help before I burn up another power steering pump?

To whom it may concern; thanks for the advice.

 

wow this is good...well...its a pump and to work properly it should be "turning" as you apply pressure or suction to it to test it...after all if the pump is not turning then its like trying to make it work while in the box...it will not show you anything...but melting the filler cap/dipstick? WOW something is really amiss like i typed...this is a good one...keep us posted!...zap!

 

Thanks. I hope there's sufficient info for our readers to evaluate my issue. For clarification, I was applying pressure and suction to the lower steering unit thru the lines; purpose to determine if I may have an air leak somewhere other than the power steering pump.

 

What you need to do is inspect all the hoses and the steering box and resevoir for contaminants. If you have contamination in the system all you are doing is flushing it into the new pumps and destroying them.

JMC

 

Is the pressure line partially clogged? How about the box?

SL

 

Howard @ the Power Brake Xchange. If he don't know no one does. 1-800-580-5729

 

Update: On way home (wife was chouffuer), found 1990 F150 at supermarket owned by chap named Arthur. He was kind enough to let me look at his power steering pump. Guess what? pulley was flush with power steering pump shaft.

At home, called Howard @ the Power Brake Xchange, but closed at 4. Will call tomorrow.

Placed truck back on jacks and removed hose from return line and applied 20lb suction w/ no fluid retrieved (don't desire to remove metal line yet). Tightened pulley to flush (approx. .01 in) w/ power steering pump shaft. Cranked engine - NO LOUD NOISE FROM PUMP, JUST PURRRRED. Ran engine till fluid was approx. 150F. turned wheel approx. 30 times and fluid dropped to power steering unit. Some air bubbles also occurred, but stopped. Fluid looked like crap, though, so FLUSH system.

FLUSHING - Went thru process of removing return hose, turning wheels, some fluid emitted from return line into "proper container", reinstalling return hose, start engine and turn wheels, fluid receded into lower steering unit, topped off power steering pump, checked emitted fluid to see if it was warm (IT WAS STILL COOL - idea!!!!!) and then thru the same process again of removing return hose........ 10 more times. Replaced fluid, looks like crap again.

IDEA - if the lower steering unit's fluid was still cool even though the power steering pump was hot as hell, I probably didn't ruin the seals in the power steering unit. Will check for leaks tomorrow.

Tomorrow, talk to Howard, continue flushing till clear, drop off jacks, then ?????

 

Appears Howard is named Harold. Harold was out Friday, but Allen also indicated the lines should be checked. Pressure line was totally blocked. Replaced same.

Spent balance of Friday, Saturday and Sunday bleeding system. Could not get rid of the air bubbles. While cold turned wheels to bring out air. Never got to a point where air would stop coming out of the pump. Disconnected return line, started engine and plenty of fluid came out of the return line. Maintained fluid capacity by refilling pump at same time. I'm baffled by the air, considering there are no leaks.

Since this is a closed system with no leaks and I can't explain the air source, it wouldn't be prudent to proceed with my own skill to rebuild the power steering unit (although that task appears to have average difficulty).

Dropped truck off; we'll see what they say when I pay my bill.

 

At least I had the H right. Now if I could only remeber where I left the rest of my memory. Al is a good man his brother Harold does the actual rebuilds tho. He is a wealth of info. Does a ton of antique and muscle car stuff. Distributor for all the major abs brand components too.

Let us know how you make out.

 

I don't know much about hydraulics but I posted a thread not to long ago about how loud my Power Steering pump is. I was told that a loose, worn fitting or seal can allow air in even though it's not leaking fluid out. I still have the problem, I can bleed mine and it is quiet for a day, then starts whining again. Of coarse it dosen't get any where near as hot as yours melting dip sticks or anything, but it is annoying.

Let us know what the mechanic says, it might help me fix mine!