Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: P/S pump "break in"? (Read 4437 times) previous topic - next topic

P/S pump "break in"?

I finally got done putting the Tbird back together, which entailed a new rack and pump. The new pump whines like a banshee...and after driving it around town for a bit, the lines are too hot to grasp. I've bled the pump, but it made no difference.

Does a pump break in, or is this reman. Motorcraft pump a piece of junk right out of the box?

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #1 –
Which rack?  I think the pumps are different for the 20:1 and 15:1 so that could be your problem.

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #2 –
Heh his isn't either.
One 88

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #3 –
Naw, they all make noise out of the box. There is a break-in period; in my experience the noise gets softer in about a week of normal driving (or in my case, a summer of driving the convertible LOL). You could also try adding some stop-leak stuff to the fluid. It's real thick and should coat the gears up enough for quieter operation sooner. But it's also expensive. I guess it would be your call.

Let me also add that, with a 5.0 engine, if one eliminates the a/c compressor, uses the FRPP kit to move the p/s pump up to where the a/c compressor was, and also installs a new p/s pump at the same time...with a hollow cowl induction fiberglass hood...the gear whine from the p/s pump is incredibly annoying. At least in the stock position (low in the engine bay) there's some sound deflection. But up high like that...yeah, I don't think I'll ever do that again LOL.

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: CougarSE;136664
Heh his isn't either.



Variable ratio?

Either way, the two different pumps are not compatible.

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: stuntmannick;136673
Variable ratio?

'03-'04 Cobra rack



Quote
Either way, the two different pumps are not compatible.

I forget the differences. rockauto shows two pumps for the 3.8/5.0 cars. STP28RM [w/Handling Package] and STP29RM [w/o Handling Package] I bought the STP28RM.

The only differences between our pumps is flowrate and maximum (blowoff) pressure. You may get different steering characteristics from a pump with a lower blowoff pressure (less assist), but as far as I know...it isn't detrimental to put a P/S pump was wasn't originally spec'd for your specific configuration.

Quality is job 1

Reply #6 –
The pump made it ~5000 miles before the pulley bearing took a dump.

Job 1 indeed! :mad:

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #7 –
I blew a pump because I was a dimwit and thought that "power steering" used "power steering fluid" - doh! When I (luckily) had a leak in my brand new rack/pump/lines setup, I did a search and found out that our power steering uses tranny fluid - doh! System is so smooth now it's not funny :D
11.96 @ 118 MPH old 306 KB; 428W coming soon.

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #8 –
Although the pump bearings was rapidly giving up the ghost, it wasn't the root of my problem.

Turns out some of the pulleys are misaligned. When I installed my SN95 condenser, I also got rid of the factory HR980 compressor and installed an FS6 compressor with brackets from an '86 3.8. The 6P148A (The FS6's little brother) was offered from 5/85 to 1/86 for 3.8s. Upon closer inspection just yesterday, I noticed the P/S and A/C are about 1 belt groove closer to the engine than the crank pulley (and probably all the other pulleys). It was fine and dandy with the smog pump, but without it the increased free length between the crank pulley and the alternator allowed the belt to jump pulley grooves on the crank. The racket I heard was the belt jumping from normal position to one groove back and then forward again every few seconds.

My ghetto quick fix was to pull the P/S pulley outwards about 1/2 a groove. Seems to have worked. I'll take a close look at it next week.

Below is the best picture I have of the belt routing post HR980.

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #9 –
wait we have to run transmission fluid in our power steering!?!
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #10 –
Type F

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #11 –
opps
best drain mine and swap it before it goes on the road!
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #12 –
it kills all of the seals and gives you that famous "ford whine" you hear in parking lots.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com
 

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #13 –
o my car has whined since day one, got to love that ford whine, cant hear mine over the straight 2 1/2 exhaust, CAI, and the fan.
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

P/S pump "break in"?

Reply #14 –
I'm still running my stock pump,with 15-1 rack.I had a problem with oil blowin out the cap at highway speeds,bought a new cap problem solved.I ain't got F in it either.And no whine!
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +