Power Steering Problem

[89SHOMAN666]

Hello All,
I'm having a problem with my power steering in my 89 SHO. Whenever I have the RPM low it screeches terribly it also does it whenever I corner at a high rate of speed. It is a very high pitched screech. It's especially bad when you're for example parking the car and you're going slowly in reverse. Finally it also gets worse as the weather gets colder.

Any suggestions? Do I need a new power steering pump? I've heard the OEM Ford pumps kind of sucked to begin with so I dunno if that's part of the problem or not. headbang

Thanks in advance for your help!

Later,

 

[fasteddie]

First off have you checked the level of your ps fluid. Also check the quality of the fluid, maybe the fluid is contaminated and may need to be changed (verify the fluids color it should be red). Also check and make sure you ps belt is not loose, or damaged.. Try to locate the problem the high pitch could be the actual pump hope fully its just low on fluid and you can top it off before you damage the pump.. If the fluid is low or dirty I would recomend flushing the fluid and the rack, it takes some time, but it helped my car alot and the steering improved! Make sure you dont have an air buble in the system if you flush it !
Good Luck

 

[89SHOMAN666]

Hello,
First off thanks for the reply! Moving on from there the fluid level on the pump is fine, that was the first thing I suspected. As for contamination, the fluid is slightly brownish in color but I don't see any particles. As for isolating where it is coming from the serpentine belt is nice and tight although it has some checking so it wouldn't hurt to replace it. The screech only comes from turning the steering wheel not from differences in engine RPM like what would happen if like the serpentine belt was loose. There isn't a separate belt for the PS pump right? The second question I have is a noise like that couldn't be caused by a steering rack right? I personally cannot see how it could come from the rack but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks for your help,

<small>[ February 11, 2004, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: 89SHOMAN666 ]</small>