Steering Problem

[Hank F.]

My 93 ATX w/ 180k has begun to exhibit a strange jerkiness in my steering. When going around a curve, the wheel jerks slightly in the opposite direction. Also, my power steering fluid is black. When I noticed the color, I immediately siphoned all the fluid I could get out of the reservoir, only to see it black again in only two days. It is not leaking at all. I recently installed new outer tie rod ends and had it four wheel aligned. I realize that at the mileage, everything (rack, power steering pump, hoses, etc.) could be going TU. But all at once? Please advise if anyone has had similar experience, what the problem turned out to be. Or should I just install a new rack and pump and hoses and get it over with? I couldn't find anything like those great Phoenix how-to's for a steering rack. Is there such a thing, or am I looking in the wrong place? Thanks in advance for any and all help. I am in the wrong posting topic, but I don't know how to change. Sorry

 

[93rev2sev]

I have experience with cajun Power Steering Fluid.

Rack. $50 or so used
pump. $50 or so used - I spent like one-seventy-something in 2001 for a reman'd pump and grumbled all the way home.
NEW Pressure hose. (Flush the other hoses with clean fluid)
subframe bushings. ~$150 shipped from shonut ---optional
Motor mounts. (prices vary from $45 on e-bay to over $100 elsewhere). optional

Then you can be done with it.

you can use a rack from a same gen Sable to retain VAPS or from a SLO to eliminate VAPS (if you even have VAPS).
I recommend GEN3 subframe bushings (I've never tried aluminum)
Post in the "want to buy" section for a pump or pay triple for a reman'd unit that might die or moan in a month anyway.

 

[SHOtimer]

The first step you will want to do is to get the fluid clean. That makes a huge difference. The best, way to do it is to continue what you did. Suck all the fluid out of the resivour and fill it up with nice clean red type F ps/tranny fluid. Then drive the car for a day or two and do it again. It will probably take a couple quarts and a couple weeks to get clean fluid. But, that might easily solve your problem. Once it starts getting cleaner i'd suggest putting in Mobil 1 full synthetic ATF fluid. That is a popular PS fluid here and it works well...with the system. Made a huge difference in system.

You can't really evalute the system unless the fluid in it is clean.

Doug

 

[shopartsnw]

I agree on flushing the system to get the fluid clean. This is the first step.

But what is the "final answer" on fluid type?

SHOtimes.com article (Doug Lewis) lists Power Steering Fluid

This post says Type F ATF

This post also says Mobile 1 synthetic ATF (Dextron style)

What is THE correct fluid for the SHO?

I had the hunting power steering thing last week, so I flushed the entire system. I used Valvoline synthetic Power Steering fluid. It eliminated the hunting, but now the steering effort is much higher. The fluid does run clear and with no noise.

 

[projectSHO89]

Fresh fluid might help. If it doesn't you need a new rack. Your pump is not the problem.

Steve

 

[Hank F.]

I am going to purge the system the way a sticky suggested- in the manner of purging the ATF. Then, when I've got clean fluid, I'll re-evaluate, yes? I read Cardone?- says to prepare to use as many as 10 qts. to completely clean all old juice out. This car may be a miler, but the girl who owned it previously called the Ford store every time it farted. She spent 2700$ for a reman trans. 38k miles ago. I have got to figure that contamination is a large part of the problem, since it sat for 8 months prior to my buying it. I keep hoping someone will get on line and tell me all it needs is Lucas or Amsoil- a painless $20 fix. I won't be that lucky, will I?