Power steering troubleshooting

LeslieXLT

LeslieXLT

New Member
I recently pulled my power steering because it was humming and wasn’t turning very well. Long story short I wound up having to put old one back in while a waited for new one to arise. When I start truck up, wheels off ground, the steering wheel jerks crazy to one or other direction when I try to turn it it literally locks up. I had a lot of air bubbles come up in reservoir and wheel turns normally with motor off
 
Well the thing is that my steering was functional b4 but now it’s not I figured that was due to having lines disconected/drained I’ve never experienced a lol up like this and then there is the sudden arm breaking steering wheel spin when I start the engine?
 
mhoward said:
So the old pump is back on for now?
Click to expand...
Since my last post I have put new pump on with same issues happeningmotor off, wheels off ground, steering wheel turns in both directions, start motor and steering wheel takes off on its own unable to physically turn it’s down pump hums real loud like it’s empty. Turn motor back off and reservoir appears low then slowly starts filling back up
 
I been getting gurgles of air from it with motor off and on by turning steer wheel but damn how much air can it hold? And it don’t show any improvement am actually wore out from turning it
 
Replaced the pump on my son's 1999 XLT and we flushed the rack out at the same time. Been about 3 years ago, but I seem to recall pulling the return hose off the pump and going lock to lock with the engine off until there was no air bubbles showing. Might give that a try after you let your arms rest a bit! :)
 
Thanks a bunch!! Imma go get a new return hose or new nylon seals for that threaded end. I no it’s sposed to have some play but it’s got a lot more than the pressure hose has but has anyone ever experienced this crazy spinning of the steering wheel? Soon as motor starts you best be holding that wheel both hands. Like arm wrestling championships
 
Well I went and exchanged my new pump for another new pump, new high pressure and return hoses and followed the instructions to it all. It all seemed very promising even to the point I thought I got a bum pump, until I started the motor!
 
I recall once back in the mid-1970s working as a mechanic at a Ford dealership, had a car that did the phantom steering like you describe. Those old cars had an assist cylinder that would help you turn the wheel once you started to turn in either direction. There were "spool valves" inside that sensed the turning and directed the fluid in the cylinder. The assisting now is in the rack & pinion under your truck. Most likely that is what is causing the issue. You can now safely rule out the pump since you replaced it twice.
 
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