Still is too and it's been a while.
P/S pump noise ????
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
P/S pump noise ????
I recently flushed my power steering system and replaced the fluid with synthetic PS fluid. Now when the engine & accessories get hot, the power steering pump makes a constant wirring noise. No leaks and no vibration and the power steering works just fine, but it wirrrrrrs when hot.
Is it time to replace or rebuild the 26 year OEM pump or should I go back to non-synthetic fluid OR just live with it until the pump starts leaking or fails?
WHAT THINK ??
Is it time to replace or rebuild the 26 year OEM pump or should I go back to non-synthetic fluid OR just live with it until the pump starts leaking or fails?
WHAT THINK ??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 216
From: Merritt Island, FL
I'd probably try to purge any air, jack up the front wheels off the ground, start engine, slowly turn front wheels lock to lock several times.
If the noise persists, then you may have a pump on its way out, or just a noisy bearing. I guess you could try changing the fluid back to the old stuff to see if it helps, but rebuilt pumps are cheap.
If the noise persists, then you may have a pump on its way out, or just a noisy bearing. I guess you could try changing the fluid back to the old stuff to see if it helps, but rebuilt pumps are cheap.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,660
Likes: 22
Often when we do the maint...too little too late, we end up with symptoms that warn of the impending failure...that would have happened anyway, we just made them appear by trying to do the right thing.
I agree 100% on the syn fluid. use that AND some LUCAS PS rack conditioner and you will never have a problem.
The whinning is the cavitation inside the pump from air foaming. usually from worn rollers in the vane-type impeller thats causing a mixing/stirring action instead of pumping...Its called "slippage" in hyd terms. It'll g o on for some time..then something WILL fail..a seal, pump, sumthin. If the car has been driven uch since the flush, air in the system is possible but not likely. A tight system chases it out first time the wheel is turned.
Like its been said, rebuilds are cheap....its good medicine to replace the old hoses as well. Those on the other hand are NOT cheap...
Get your FSM out and collect the tools. Its a good saturday job. Be damn careful with that bracket...hard to find and easy to break.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
What you probably did not do is bleed the system and yes I know there is no bleeder.
jack the car up use an old turkey baster and get out as much fluid as you can as all it is foam and aerated fluid.
Let the car sit several hours since last time run.
With the key on turn the wheels back and forth by hand if this puts fluid in the resivoir get it out of there. Repeat until you can not get any more out. Personally i would drain the whole thing out and flush with the fluid GM reccomends in the first place. It lasted 26 years with no problems and I doubt you will be driving the car 26 years from now. Anyway add a little fluid and move the wheels along with some Lucas PS conditoner the idea like brakes to not let it run dry and add more air. keep going until you are sure you have all the air out then start it and see what you have.
Worked on a good friends Ford that had a PS leak and they forgot to check it and air got in. You could hear that thing for 3 blocks away and no dead silent.
Dave
jack the car up use an old turkey baster and get out as much fluid as you can as all it is foam and aerated fluid.
Let the car sit several hours since last time run.
With the key on turn the wheels back and forth by hand if this puts fluid in the resivoir get it out of there. Repeat until you can not get any more out. Personally i would drain the whole thing out and flush with the fluid GM reccomends in the first place. It lasted 26 years with no problems and I doubt you will be driving the car 26 years from now. Anyway add a little fluid and move the wheels along with some Lucas PS conditoner the idea like brakes to not let it run dry and add more air. keep going until you are sure you have all the air out then start it and see what you have.
Worked on a good friends Ford that had a PS leak and they forgot to check it and air got in. You could hear that thing for 3 blocks away and no dead silent.
Dave
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Often when we do the maint...too little too late, we end up with symptoms that warn of the impending failure...that would have happened anyway, we just made them appear by trying to do the right thing.
I agree 100% on the syn fluid. use that AND some LUCAS PS rack conditioner and you will never have a problem.
The whinning is the cavitation inside the pump from air foaming. usually from worn rollers in the vane-type impeller thats causing a mixing/stirring action instead of pumping...Its called "slippage" in hyd terms. It'll g o on for some time..then something WILL fail..a seal, pump, sumthin. If the car has been driven uch since the flush, air in the system is possible but not likely. A tight system chases it out first time the wheel is turned.
Like its been said, rebuilds are cheap....its good medicine to replace the old hoses as well. Those on the other hand are NOT cheap...
Get your FSM out and collect the tools. Its a good saturday job. Be damn careful with that bracket...hard to find and easy to break.
I suspect that you are right that the whinning is the cavitation inside the pump from air foaming due to the worn 26 year old rollers in the vane-type impeller.
Soooooo, I think I'll live with it for a bit longer until I get time to have the folks at Turn One rebuild it for me. Thanks for your advice which has been very helpful. AND, thanks for the tip on the bracket. I'd hate to break it and then have to find a new one.
Thanks much
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The OEM pump on my '87 autocross/track car started to whine pretty bad a few years ago. Once the fluid got hot, the noise was pretty loud. So I flushed out the old fluid and replaced it with Red Line Synthetic PS fluid.
That helped a lot but the whine did come back. Last year, I installed a PS fluid cooler using a small tranny cooler. That was a real big help and so far, there is no noise with the Red Line fluid and the cooler.
The pump is 25 years old so it's probably just a matter of time before it gets to where it will constantly whine or simply fail. Over this winter, I think I will go for a Turn One pump rebuild.
That helped a lot but the whine did come back. Last year, I installed a PS fluid cooler using a small tranny cooler. That was a real big help and so far, there is no noise with the Red Line fluid and the cooler.
The pump is 25 years old so it's probably just a matter of time before it gets to where it will constantly whine or simply fail. Over this winter, I think I will go for a Turn One pump rebuild.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 120
From: AZ
I bought one from CL but GM parts Direct lists them new, for $45, plus shipping.
The pump can be removed from the bracket w/o removing the pulley. All four attaching bolts are removable with a standard, slightly angled 1/2" box wrench. The three in front are tight to remove/install but come out despite snug clearances with the pulley.
Just changed my broken bracket, is how I know.
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