Power Steering Tips Help and Advice

PROTECT THE INSTALLATION AND WARRANTY OF ALL POWER STEERING UNITS

FLUSH THE SYSTEM

Refer to owners manual or manufacturer's specifications to determine the proper fluid to be used in the power steering system and the rack and pinion unit. Use only recommended fluids.

Other steering components may retain residue from the old system and contaminate the new rack immediately, possibly voiding the warranty. If in doubt fit a inline filter to the return hose (low pressure pipe).

A leading cause of malfunctioning units is hose residue in the system. Hoses don't just "up and break". They deteriorate - they rot - they break away - they slough off bits and pieces of rubber residue, passing them into the system to plug up or gum up the valves and orifices in the Rack and Pinion unit.

CHECK ALL POWER STEERING HOSES

Since they deteriorate from the "inside-out," it is sometimes hard to tell if they are failing just by looking. If the hoses feel stiff, hard or spongy - replace all hoses in the system. Here's why: The hoses are all made from similar compounds. If one hose is in poor condition or rotten, it is a sure sign that they all are ready to be replaced.

HOW TO FLUSH A SYSTEM

1. With the Rack and Pinion hosed disconnected, place the outlet hose from the power steering pump into a waste container. 2. Fill the pump reservoir with fresh fluid - start engine - continue filling with fresh fluids until the fluid coming from the pump outlet is running clean. DO NOT RUN THE PUMP DRY (without fluid). 3. Reconnect the lines to the rack, fill power steering reservoir with fluid to correct level. Most systems are self-bleeding. A few turns left to right will remove any air in the system.

NOTE: Some Ford pumps are difficult to bleed all the air out of and the result is a "growling" type of noise. Make sure all fittings are airtight by loosening slightly and re-tightening.

TROUBLE SHOOTING - POWER STEERING SYSTEMS

THE POSSIBLE CAUSE FOLLOWED BY THE CORRECTIVE ACTION

HARD STEERING

(1) IMPROPER TYRE PRESSURES (1) INFLATE TYRES TO RECOMMENDED PRESSURES

(2) LOOSE PUMP DRIVE BELT (2) TIGHTEN OR REPLACE BELT

(3) LOW OR INCORRECT FLUID (3) REFILL RESERVOIR WITH PROPER FLUID CHECK FOR LEAKS.

(4) LOOSE, BENT OR POORLY LUBRICATED FRONT END PARTS (4) TIGHTEN OR REPLACE PARTS: LUBRICATE ALL FITTINGS

(5) IMPROPER FRONT END ALIGNMENT (5) ALIGN FRONT END

(6) PARTIAL SEIZURE IN STEERING COLUMN OR LINKAGE (6) DISASSEMBLE AND INSPECT COMPONENT PARTS. REPAIR OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY

(7) AIR IN HYDRAULIC SYSTEM (7) BLEED SYSTEM. REFILL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS

(8) LOW PUMP OUTPUT OR LEAKS IN SYSTEM (8) DISASSEMBLE PUMP. CHECK FOR WORN OR DAMAGED PARTS. CHECK FOR LEAKS IN THE SYSTEM.

(9) OBSTRUCTION IN LINES (9) CLEAN OR REPLACE LINES

(10) PUMP VALVES STICKING OR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT (10) REPLACE OR ADJUST VALVES

(11) STEERING RACK / BOX WORN OUT (11) RE-ENGINEEER

LEAKING HOSES AND SEALS

1 TOO MUCH FLUID IN PUMP RESERVOIR (1) REMOVE OIL TO PROPER LEVEL

2 DAMAGED OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED (2) REPLACE OR ADJUST O RING IN PUMP RESERVOIR

3 LOOSE PUMP FITTINGS OR STUDS (3) RE-TORQUE TO SPECIFICATIONS

4 DEFECTIVE PUMP AND SEALS (4) REPLACE

5 CRACKS IN HOSE OR SPLITS IN FITTINGS (5) REPLACE HOSE ASSEMBLY

TIGHT / LOOSE STEERING / VALVE ASSEMBLY OUT OF HYDRAYLIC BALANCE

1 LOOSE WHEEL BEARINGS (1) ADJUST WHEEL BEARINGS

2 FAULTY SHOCKS (2) REPLACE SHOCKS

3 WORN LINKAGE COMPONENTS (3) REPLACE WORN COMPONENTS

4 LOOSE STEERING GEAR MOUNTINGS OR LINKAGE POINTS(4) TIGHTEN MOUNTINGS OR LINKAGE

5 STEERING RACK / BOX WORN OR IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED (5) REPLACE AND/OR ADJUST UNIT

6 TORSION BAR BENT DUE TO IMPACT (6) REPLACE RACK / BOX

NOISES

1 LOOSE BELTS (1) REPLACE AND/OR ADJUST BELTS

2 LOW FLUID, AIR IN SYSTEM (2) REFILL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS

3 FOREIGN MATTER IN SYSTEM (3) DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN SYSTEM

4 IMPROPER LUBRICATION (4) LUBRICATE ALL FITTINGS

5 INTERFERENCE OR SIEZING IN LINKAGE IN LINKAGE (5) DISASSEMBLE, INSPECT, REPLACE OR ADJUST COMPONENTS

6 STEERING GEAR MOUNTINGS LOOSE (6) TIGHTEN MOUNTINGS

7 INCORRECT ADJUSTMENT OR WEAR IN RACK OR BOX(7) DISASSEMBLE, INSPECT, REPAIR, REPLACE AND/OR ADJUST PARTS

8 WEAR IN PUMP (8) REPLACE PUMP AS NECESSARY

VEER OR WANDER

(1) IMPROPER TYRE PRESSURE (1) INFLATE TYRES TO RECOMMENDED PRESSURES

(2) IMPROPER FRONT END ALIGNMENT (2) ALIGN FRONT END

(3) BINDING BRAKES (3) INSPECT REPLACE AND/OR ADJUST BRAKES

(4) FRONT CRADLER LOOSE OR ACCIDENT DAMAGE (4) STRAIGHTEN FRAME

(5) IMPROPER REAR END ALIGNMENT (5) INSPECT SHOCKS AND CONTROL ARM TORQUE REPLACE AND/OR ADJUST AS NECESSARY

(6) FAULTY SHOCKS OR SPRINGS (6) REPLACE AS NECESSARY

(7) LOOSE OR BENT FRONT END COMPONENTS (7) REPLACE AS NECESSARY

(8) PLAY IN PITMAN DROP ARM (8) INSPECT BUSHINGS AND ARM. REPLACE AS NECESSARY

(9) LOOSE WHEEL BEARINGS (9) ADJUST TO SPECIFICATIONS

(10) PITMAN DROP ARM BALL JOINT SEIZURE (10) REPLACE ARM

WHEEL OSCILLATION

(1) IMPROPER TYRE PRESSURES (1) INFLATE TYRES TO RECOMMENDED PRESSURES

(2) LOOSE WHEEL BEARINGS (2) ADJUST TO SPECIFICATIONS

(3) IMPROPER FRONT END ALIGNMENT (3) ALIGN FRONT END

(4) WORN TIE RODS (4) TRACK ROD ENDS

(5) WORN, BENT OR BROKEN FRONT END COMPONENTS (5) INSPECT, REPAIR OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY

(6) TYRES OUT OF ROUND OR OUT OF BALANCE (6) REPLACE OR BALANCE TYRES

(7) EXCESSIVE LATERAL RUNOUT IN DISC BRAKE, DISC OR ROTOR (7) REFACE OR REPLACE BRAKE DISK OR ROTOR

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