Power Steering Pressure Switch?

[NebraskaSHO]

Front/Rear suspensions are all rebuilt. New PS pump as well. What the mechanics said is the steering is a little hard at idle, but it works fine once driving.

Could it be the PSPS?

http://www.partsamerica.com/product...IE&MfrPartNumber=FF9000&PartType=2081&PTSet=A

I take it that is part of the VAPS?

Just wondering??? I haven't driven the car yet and won't get to until Saturday. I'm working 18hrs tomorrow, and can not wait to get to drive the SHO!!! It'll be 15 days since I last drove it

 

[SHOGrabber]

I have also noticed that on a 98. At idle when the rpm's are low(lower than it should be it seems) it is tough. But once you step on the gas and the rpm's are up as in at least 800rpm. Its all good. So for some reason I think it is idling lower than it should be.

 

[SHOZ123]

How's the tire pressure in front?

Could also be worn strut bushings.

 

[97shobroken]

or if you have wide tires this could cause this i be leave

 

[NebraskaSHO]

How's the tire pressure in front?

Could also be worn strut bushings.

Tires are brand new with ~35psi. Only ~120 miles on them. Just got them replaced when the front/rear suspensions were rebuilt along with a new pump. So no to both of those possible problems. It's actually weird now to drive it as it doesn't make any clunking or thud sounds at all

I think it's just the replacement Napa pump is a junker. We've got another one we can try back at home. It makes noise all through the RPMs and not just at idle. Only then is it really noticeable how hard it is to steer, otherwise it's fine.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

or if you have wide tires this could cause this i be leave

Kumho Ecsta ASX 225/55/R16
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/BigPi...peed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&minSpeedRating=H

So it's not that either...

 

[SHOZ123]

What's the max tire pressure for that tire? The Kumhos I had were 45 lb tires and need to be pumped up to near that in the front.

 

[cjdavid]

Tires are brand new with ~35psi. Only ~120 miles on them. Just got them replaced when the front/rear suspensions were rebuilt along with a new pump. So no to both of those possible problems. It's actually weird now to drive it as it doesn't make any clunking or thud sounds at all

I think it's just the replacement Napa pump is a junker. We've got another one we can try back at home. It makes noise all through the RPMs and not just at idle. Only then is it really noticeable how hard it is to steer, otherwise it's fine.

If the pump is making noise the bushings are more than likely not doing too well which will make you loose pressure.

All vehicles at idle the steering pressure is not enough to make it easy to turn the wheel.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Paul I'll go check the PSI and inflate them to that pressure to see if that helps.

cjdavid, this is excessive. It's worse than what I had before with a pump that was working fine, but had a massive hemorrhage and leaked fluid like mad. Before it (the steering wheel) would spin fairly easy, now it's like driving our 64 Impala SS.

 

[SHOZ123]

The pump is a very simple design but very high flow. The PS pump on the SHO has over twice the flow rate of the normal Taurus. This due probably to the ZF rack. Could be the rack is developing problems or the fluid is dirty and the innards all carboned up.

What's the PS fluid look like and what kind do you use? I've found that about any ATX fluid will work, synthetic being the best. But it is important to change suck out the reservoir once a year and replace with new fluid.

If the fluid looks like coffee it's time to get to work cleaning it by frequent draining and filling of the PS reservoir until the fluid stays clean.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Maybe they refilled the pump with PS fluid instead of ATF? I'll go look at it once it stops raining.

Thanks for the diagrams/info.

Since it was leaking so much, I was adding about half a quart a week. I probably added 2-3 quarts at least from the time the leak developed until it was fixed.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Fluid is ATF, I will be changing the fluid out now until it is all new.

Right now it's a good clear/red like new fluid looks like. But this will be for my peace of mind.

 

[SHOZ123]

Don't know if your car has been lowered but if it has the steel line going from the rack to the PS cooler will drop below the subframe. This will expose it to bring crushed if you hit a *** hole or something.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Car is normal height, I never got around to strut tab lowering it before it was sent into the shop.

Since it's mid 60's I am going to go check the front tire PSI.