PS Problems???

[jwilen]

I need some help. I have had a horrible whine, thought power steering pump and so did my mechanic, so we replaced. No better, and was no worse...until lately. The whine is still there, but it appears to be getting a bit worse. We ran hydraulic tests and looked over everything, including running an air bleed on the entire pwr steering system, to no avail. He's concluded there may be a pin whole leak in the rack, alllowing air into the sealed system, therefore causing the noises. I have no other issues related to the pwr steering system other than the noises. He quoted me a price of about $1700 for new, and $1000 and a week to rebuild the current one. What do I do? Will a non-SHO rack work, even though it won't have the EVO? PLEASE HELP!

 

[nothingtoseehere]

when you changed the pump did yuo flush the system out completely? I had a HORRID sound coming from my PS. Flushed it out with cheap fluid, bled it and the whole system is PERFECT now. This weekend I am flushing it again with some full synthetic ATF. Follow the instructions on V8SHO to drain the whole system. It is pretty easy. CLIFF NOTES

Jack front of car up. Disconnect hose from passenger side finned cooler tube. Plug hose with 1/2" bolt and the clamp. Connect 1/2" ID length of hose to cooler at one end, empty soda bottle on the other. Pull 5th from left top row fuse from engine fuse block. Have someone crank the engine and turn the wheel while you add fluid to the reservoir. Eventually the fluid will come out completely clean. Reconnect everything. Start the car, slowly turn wheel full left and full right without holding at stops to bleed air. Lower and go.

 

[nik97]

All Taurus racks have VAPS. The SHO has a specific pump and VAPS actuator. They may have the same physical dimensions tho. --EVO is used on recirculating ball type and the actuator is on the pump outlet. FYI

 

[YZFan]

remove the belt and then remove both belt pulleys I bet you will find the problem there. i just replaced one of mine for this noise. It sound just like a powersteering pump. You have to remove the pulley to and spin it by hand to hear the bearing.

 

[SHOZ123]

I though I had a bad pump. Turned out to be the alternator bearing.

 

[avocadoman1]

I though I had a bad pump. Turned out to be the alternator bearing.

mine too!
i diagnosed it with a stethascope. it got real noisy in a hurry.
i'm pulling my alternator today. new (rebuilt) one arrives on Tuesday.

 

[PFA]

Anyone have an up close picture of the alternator? I'd like to see the style/design-mounts. Thanks

 

[SHOZ123]

Here is a very good site for the alternator and starters. You will find pictures, specs and the actual parts. From what I've seen the V8 SHO alternator is the same as the '96 3.8L Windstar alternator. There are some minor differences, pulley size is a bit bigger (good) and the regulator may have a delay on time feature to it.

http://www.wai-wetherill.com/wrs/wrschicago.cfm

http://www.wai-wetherill.com/products/partimage.cfm?wai_num=1-2012-21FD