Power steering pump makes the "empty" sound all the time.

[timk225]

I'm getting my 1973 Duster back on the road, and among other things, there's an issue with the power steering pump. It seems to provide steering power just fine, it has nice light steering, but it always makes the sound of an empty reservoir. I've filled it, drove it around, topped it off again, drove it more, and it makes the empty sound a little when steering isn't being done, and a lot when you're turning the steering wheel.

What's wrong? Worn out pump? Or it was run low on fluid and / or with very old fluid and the seals are damaged in the pump? I've added new fluid to it but never tried to drain most of what was in there already.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Yes!

I have noticed the same with Ford PS pumps, when they get old they make a distinctive sound that they don't when new.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Jack both front wheels off the ground and see if the steering is binding/

Also you may have a collapsed pressure hose. Did you let the pump hang on the box when the engine was out? Or twist the hose when reinstalling. A bad pressure hose will make that noise.

 

[toolmanmike]

Yes!

I have noticed the same with Ford PS pumps, when they get old they make a distinctive sound that they don't when new.

Ford can use a Saginaw pump and it will still make noise.

 

[Syleng1]

What fluid are you running?
Long shot but worth a try.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Under normal circumstances, that usually means either you still have air in the system, or it's sucking air from somewhere. If the pump is at the end of its life span, that can be it, too. I would do as Steve eluded to and jack the wheels up in the front and turn it lock to lock many times and see if that might do it. If it doesn't, you probably either need to rebuild the pump or replace it.

 

[1WildRT]

Yes!

I have noticed the same with Ford PS pumps, when they get old they make a distinctive sound that they don't when new.

Having worked as a Ford tech for a number of years their pumps are very sensitive to air in the system & it's hard to purge....

Rule 1 when servicing a P/S system do not just fill the reservoir & start the engine expecting to top off the system.... Instead fill the reservoir, disable the ignition, crank the engine for 15-20 seconds, top off the reservoir, crank again, recheck the reservoir... Now start the car....

Rule two, if the pump is already whining you might get lucky if you can put the reservoir into a vacuum and run the engine for 15-20 minutes... I have a Ford P/S pump cap that I modified by opening up the vent hole so a vacuum fitting could be epoxied to it... Swap caps, attach a vacuum hose to the cap and to a vacuum port on the engine... Start the engine & let it run at a high idle, occasionally turn the steering from lock to lock.... If the whine goes away it was air in the system... It not the pump most likely has internal damage...

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Just had one do it with a collapsed hose. Why I mentioned it.

 

[Kendog 170]

I fill, run, turn all the way in both directions, shut off and let sit 5 minutes to let air bubbles and or foam to subside. Top off and repeat.

 

[Syleng1]

When turning “lock to lock.”

Turn slow and steady not a race from side to side.

 

[missing linc]

I had one on a Ford that blew the pressure hose in my driveway, and was shut off immediately. I replaced the hose, refilled the system, followed all the steps to purge the air, but it still whined like it was dry. After driving it for a few weeks it stopped whining, I guess it just took that long to get all the air out of the system.