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Topic: Which power steering pump? (Read 2396 times) previous topic - next topic

Which power steering pump?

Ok. I have the standard, non-quick ratio, steering rack I believe.  I have 3 powersteering pumps, original off 3.8L,  one from 88 LX bird 302, and one I got with my bracket from a mustang. The 3.8L had a larger pulley, the mustang pump has a smaller diameter pulley, and I broke the pulley from the 88 LX by trying to use 2 arm puller on the edge of the pulley :wtf:  :nono:. Probably not a good idea on what I think was a plastic pulley but I didn't have the right puller, and was impatient,also was like 2yrs ago, so oh well. The 2 bird pumps look the same, w/ black resevior, and the mustang one has a white resevior. I dont know the difference. My question is which pump should I use, and which pulley. I remember reading something about different pumps but, that was a while ago, and I dont remember much. Something about different pump for the different racks. I look on advance auto site, and it looks like all use the same pump, except mustangs changed in early 90s.
-Jerrod

1986 Tbird, former 3.8L, 302 SO shortblock, TW heads, TFS Stage 1 cam, Crane Gold Rockers, BBK ceramic shorties, T5, SPEC stage 1, pro-m, 24# injectors, other odds 'n ends.

Re: Which power steering pump?

Reply #1
You need to use a std pump with a std rack and a high-effort pump with a high effort rack....They are different and have been different since they started offering the quicker ratio (high effort) racks.  The Advance site is WRONG.

What rack was in the Mustang? 

I don't think the pulley size will matter too much....
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

Re: Which power steering pump?

Reply #2
Yeah, thats what I read a while back. I'm not sure on the rack that goes with the mustang pump, I bought it on ebay, I suppose I could email him and see if he knows. I would just use the one off my 3.8, it looks like it will fit the bracket, and I know it matches the rack, but while I was swapin the motor I just left it settin on on the floor, and when I would jack it up, I put up where the radiator sits. This worked for about 2 months, till most of the stuff was done, then it fell and broke the little return nipple off. I could pobably JB weld or just get a new one. I'm not sure on the price of them, or how would I know what one theyll give me. As for the pulleys, the small one is about 5.5" in diameter and the big one is about 7". I don't pulley size will really make a difference since I plan on getting underdrive pulleys soon. Even then I can just swap them easily if one doesn't work optimally. If the large one doesn't pump enough, I can always put on the smaller one, and see how I like it. I still need to figure out this pump issue though. Are the inlets and outlets the same on both std. and high effort pumps? Or any other way to tell them apart. Also anybody know what the difference in the pump themselves are, like more volume, or higher pressure or something like that?
-Jerrod

1986 Tbird, former 3.8L, 302 SO shortblock, TW heads, TFS Stage 1 cam, Crane Gold Rockers, BBK ceramic shorties, T5, SPEC stage 1, pro-m, 24# injectors, other odds 'n ends.

Re: Which power steering pump?

Reply #3
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then it fell and broke the little return nipple off

You can swap reseviors, you take the pressure fitting out and the resevior will slide off. :)
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

 

Re: Which power steering pump?

Reply #4
Thanks cougarman, I swapped the reseviors it should do the tick.
-Jerrod

1986 Tbird, former 3.8L, 302 SO shortblock, TW heads, TFS Stage 1 cam, Crane Gold Rockers, BBK ceramic shorties, T5, SPEC stage 1, pro-m, 24# injectors, other odds 'n ends.

Which power steering pump?

Reply #5
does anyone know the proper way to remove the pully from a powersteering pump? my pump locked up the other day and I need to change

Which power steering pump?

Reply #6
autozone rents the puller kit to remove and install the ps pulleys.:D
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo