Power Steering Pump Failed...AGAIN

[TLBREWER]

My wife takes off for work this morning in my truck. Before the end of the road the power steering quits working. Three weeks ago I changed the pump for the same thing. On that one, the pressure side check valve failed and the resevoir was pressurizing, spewing fluid everywhere. Prior to that, I had changed the pump in August, because the original just gave up after 200,000 plus miles. The second and third pumps were Napa (rebuilds), the third just swapped due to warranty. This is beginning to get a little old, so this morning I called my friendly local Ford parts lady to get a price on a Ford unit. She'd give me a 10% discount since I'm such a loyal customer, but it still comes to $236! And the kicker is, it's rebuilt also...not new as I would expect. I've never had a problem with a Napa part, but in this case is the Ford unit worth the cost. If it is, I have no problem paying for it. I know there are some of us that will only use genuine Ford parts.
My wife has this saying that "if it only works for me, it doesn't work for everyone else." That being said, I try to keep all vehicles in a state of repair that my wife or daughter can just jump in and go and not worry about whether it will start, steering work, brakes adjusted, etc. That is with the exception of plugging it in at night.

Frustrated

Tom

 

[RLDSL]

When you replaced the first failed unit , did you flush out the lines/ gearbox thoroughly with fresh fluid by connecting the pressure side hose and disconnecting the return hose and firing it up and keep pouring fresh fluid into the resivoir while the fluid pumps out the return hose to a drain pan while you have someone turn the wheel lock to lock, and get all the crunchies out of the system ?
If not , you will keep eating pumps.

 

[NJKen]

above is very true. Sometimes you actually get an inline filter for thereturn line with the new pump.
Unfortunatly for rebuilt parts ther are very few rebuiders left. Chances are prety good that Ford and NAPA are sellling you a pump rebuilt by the same person. NAPA used to do their own rebuilding with a NAPA/GPC owned company (Raylok). Now they use A-1 Cardone to rebuild most everything just like almost everyone else. Go with the best waranty.
Ken

 

[TLBREWER]

Actually I did flush the whole system until clean fluid ran out. Usually that's the step I skip in order to save time, but for some reason I did it with the PS pump. As far as the rebuilder goes, Ken you touched on what I was thinking that the possibility they're both rebuilt by the same company is a high probability. That's why I was hoping if I bought a Ford unit, it would be new.

Tom

 

[Agnem]

Tom, the Ford unit is going to be rebuilt by somebody with higher standards. I've compared NAPA Gold water pumps to Ford units, and you can see obvious differences in quality. I wouldn't hesitate to get the Ford pump, and thank your lucky stars you can still get one from them.

 

[towcat]

Just for S&G, you might want to think about replacing the high pressure hose. On the non-hydro trucks, the hose makes some pretty nasty bends. With the vibration it needs to asorb from a diesel, internal failure can happen. I don't see it often, but when a pump dies like how you are describing, I go ahead and change out the hose just to make sure there is no chance of a blockage.

 

[PackRat]

A-1 Cardone makes a Saginaw conversion, for your Ferd pumps. Several guys around here have lifted Ferds, with big tires, and kept eating pumps. Going to the Saginaw pump cured the problem.

 

[TLBREWER]

Just for S&G, you might want to think about replacing the high pressure hose. On the non-hydro trucks, the hose makes some pretty nasty bends. With the vibration it needs to asorb from a diesel, internal failure can happen. I don't see it often, but when a pump dies like how you are describing, I go ahead and change out the hose just to make sure there is no chance of a blockage.

I considered that when I changed the pump this last time. As a matter of fact, if the pump didn't fix it, the hose was going to be next. But it went away with the new pump.

Right now I'm leaning toward Ford pump and new pressure hose and be done with it.

Tom

 

[reklund]

I'm with Mel. We see NAPA parts fail every day at work (especially from the NAPA's here in New Mexico...) Get the Ford pump and some Ford lines, and be done with it for another 200000 miles...

Ryan