P/S Pump - Retrofit, Remote Tank

Mike8675309

Registered User
I was digging through my Alldata and noticed that the part that makes our power steering proportional appears to simply be the solenoid valve mounted to the power steering pump ahead of the high pressure line.

So the question begs, why couldn't any power steering pump be installed as long as that valve was placed between the pump and the high pressure line?

I can't find an application right now to swap out to a GM style pump, but I think that's my goal. I'm tired of messing with where the resevior is and my pump howls too much.
 
use a remote p/s ford pump (old escort or new 5.0 explorer/mountainer)

it will bolt up and isn't nosiy
 
ps pump whine..

if the power steering pump isn't noisy how do you know you are driving a ford? :) .... even a rebuilt one will have play front to rear....about 1/8 inch or more, this seems normal......
 
Scotte now that you said that both will become noisy within a week-LOL

I've got my engine apart right now and will be finishing it up tommorrow. I have toyed with the idea of a remote sump pump on the SC ever since I opened the hood of an SHO I used to own and saw that one. Tell me more about the old Escort/5.0 Explorer remote pump that bolts up. What years? Do the hose connections match? My battery is in the trunk so I've got room for a sump. My sorry pump is noisy and annoying as hell.

If y'all (Texan for you all) ever hear that I blew Ford's world headquarters up, it'll be because of their sorry whining power steering pumps, just so y'all know why I did it.

Vernon
 
what's the big deal if it whines a little?........this has kinda been a ford trademark!....they seem to work fine........mine has whined ever since i bought my SC but doesn't leak and works fine......same with the bronco........just turn the stereo up one notch and it's all good!
 
The big deal is my cars look and sound so good that people watch me pull up and park. Just when they're saying check out that bad a$$ T-bird, whirrrrrrrrrrrit, whirrrrrrrrrrt, whaaaaa. They must think, yeah but it's still a piece a chit Ford. It's embarrassing.

Vernon
 
i'm not sure what years escort

for the explorer one go to www.car-part.com
and punch in 1997,ford explorer, power steering pump,

i should pull up 20 pages of pumps with the salvage yards name attached

go to page 15 ( the parts are listed by price, the farther you go the cheeper it shows but after page 15 it lists it as call for price)

by the way if you ever need a part off car-part.com that shows as

Pete's Auto and Truck Parts, Inc.

that is where i work



but are pumps are listed a $60

the cheepist thats there is 11.97 (from a recycler in texas)
 
Thanks Scotte I'll give them a look. I just took the pump out of an '83 GT Mustang that we used to drive but now is a parts car. The pump in it worked flawlessly. After I cleaned it up it looks as if it's a reman and fairly fresh. I swaped on the ARC and bolted it up. It will be nice if it's still quite and dosen't drip like my last one. I found a ruff O-ring in the ARC valve and pulled out my last SC junk pump and used it's good valve. I've been busy around here, when I pull an SC apart I fix everything and catch up on all mods that have been pileing up in my closet and head.

Thanks again, that will definately interest me.

Vernon
 
Thanks for the heads up on the explorer units. If I need to change mine out before I can find a GM style replacement, I'll use one of those.

My goal will still be to find a way to retrofit some of the widely available aftermarket GM pumps and remote tanks.
 
What I've found is a problem that will crop up over time is getting a leak in the high pressure line that runs right under the engine.

Just noticed that the other nite...it's where crap can accumulate..... and the leak's so bad can't drive it anymore.

Did you guys ever replace that line? Does it go to the center of the rack? How the hell do you get to the lines off the pump in the first place?

Is there any way to bypass that crazy location and get it more directly from pump to rack?
 
It wears out not due to crap collecting, but due to the oil pan rubbing on it when the motor mounts collapse.

You'd have to get a new line made by a high pressure hydraulic place.

power%20steering.jpg
 
I bought a replacement high pressure line from Autozone for $20. Replaced it the same time as my motor mounts. Had to actually pull the power steering pump off to get the lines replaced. Also, my powersteering pump made the typical whirring/whining noise, and I was tired of it. When I replaced the line, I refilled with synthetic Valvoline power steering fluid, and some Lucas Powersteering treatment stuff. After a couple days of driving, the pump is all quite, only makes a noise when you hit the steering lock.
 
Thanks for the picture....

but I'm still tryin to figure out which connections to get at to replace the high pressure line.
I've stared at that picture at Ford and now here on the net for about an hour trying to figure if it's the center connection on the rack....and then what is the easiest way to connect at the pump.

If the top IC tube comes out can you get at the high pressure line at that point?

I've found a few places to get the lines....nice flex stainless of 3 foot length......then you put on the end pieces you want......which all seem to be either 9/16 or 5/8 thread....

does anyone know the threads of the high pressure line at each end??

The Autozone for $20 is much better than the Ford at about $70....

but I was hopin not to have to take the pump out...and route a flex stainless line somehow....with least amount of disassembly.

I was lookin maybe $50 at a flexible stainless steel replacement for about 3 feet length plus ends....

.....just need to verify the threads at each end and then order either 45, 90, or straight end pieces....
 
The connections for both sides of high pressure line are on the drivers side. One is of course on the pump itself, and the other is just below the lower intercooler tube, but you can get it from underneath with a small crecent wrench about 1/8 turn at a time.
 
I posted this in another thread in the tech forum but I think I'll try it here too, because this seems to be the place where the power steering people hang out. I just replaced my rack, pump, pressure line, and return line, and when i started the car and added fluid and turned the wheel at the same time, all I get is frothy bubbles coming up in the reservior. What do I need to do? Should I just keep trying this? I don't want to damage anything.

Thanks,

Matt
 
Look at the picture above.. It's labeled high pressure line. Here is another picture of the lines themselves. The line is a pain to get at so you might need to pull some stuff off to route it properly.

As far as the person with the bubbles. That's air. Put the front of the car up on jack stands and with the engine idling, turn the wheels from lock to lock slowly until it stops bubbling.

power%20steering%20zoom.jpg


power%20steering%20at%20rack.jpg
 
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