Explorer Power Steering Pump Not Working

recoiljunky · Dec 27, 2008

To add to my list of problems regarding my new motor, my Explorer power steering doesn't seem to be helping much. I made my own custom hose using the parts listed by another member on this board. When I started the motor for the cam break in it was obvious that the ps pump was working because I had a pretty big leak. I've tightened up the leak, jacked the front end up, turned the wheel from lock to lock and it still doesn't sem like the pump is putting out very much. I must have cycled the wheel 50 times with the motor running.

I don't have any type of pressure gauge to hook to this. How can I tell if my junk yard pump is any good?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Viperwolf1 · Dec 27, 2008

If you see tiny bubbles in the reservoir it still has air in it. I put a vac pump on the top of the reservoir and turned the pump with a drill. Cycled the steering back and forth and pumped some more air out.

recoiljunky · Dec 27, 2008

I didn't see tiny bubbles (isn't that a Don Ho song?) but I didn't look that close. I was expecting big burping bubbles.

recoiljunky · Dec 30, 2008

Anyone else?

cgbexec · Dec 30, 2008

Unless you have a giant air lock in the pump or gear, you should have some assistance. Are you rocking your wheel back and forth while running it to get the air out?

Broncobowsher · Dec 30, 2008

Power steering won't make any pressure until you load it.
Have you set the front tires on the ground and tryed it yet?
If it doesn't work there is a relief valve on the outlet of the pump. From what I have heard they tend to stick, especially junkyard pumps as they get some crud in them.

recoiljunky · Dec 30, 2008

I've got some assistance, just not much.

I lifted the front end off the ground and cycled the steering wheel from lock to lock for a while and then road tested it. Not much assistance.

recoiljunky · Dec 30, 2008

Broncobowsher said:
Power steering won't make any pressure until you load it.
Have you set the front tires on the ground and tryed it yet?
If it doesn't work there is a relief valve on the outlet of the pump. From what I have heard they tend to stick, especially junkyard pumps as they get some crud in them.

So that area in the pump that my high pressure hose mates to is supposed to move?

The fitting on my new hgh pressure hose is a little longer than the old one. It screws in a little farther than the old one. Could this make a difference.

I really no nothing about power steering pumps.

Broncobowsher · Dec 30, 2008

recoiljunky said:
So that area in the pump that my high pressure hose mates to is supposed to move?

The fitting on my new hgh pressure hose is a little longer than the old one. It screws in a little farther than the old one. Could this make a difference.

I really no nothing about power steering pumps.

I honestly don't know if that would make a difference. Never encounted it before, nor even thought about it. But that is where the relief valve lives.

OK, who has torn into an Explorer power steering pump?

lars · Dec 30, 2008

Broncobowsher said:
I honestly don't know if that would make a difference. Never encounted it before, nor even thought about it. But that is where the relief valve lives.

OK, who has torn into an Explorer power steering pump?

Funny you should ask. I have one apart on my workbench. There is a pressure relief spool in the pressure port that looks similar to the one in a Saginaw pump, except that unlike the latter, the Explorer (C3 pump) part is swaged together so you can't disassemble/modify it, or at least not easily. I'm looking into upgrade options. If I'm successful (and maybe even if I'm not) I'll report back here. I have a lot to learn. Just because I have one apart doesn't mean I understand exactly how it works. Etc, etc.

recoiljunky · Dec 31, 2008

Broncobowsher said:
Power steering won't make any pressure until you load it.
Have you set the front tires on the ground and tryed it yet?
If it doesn't work there is a relief valve on the outlet of the pump. From what I have heard they tend to stick, especially junkyard pumps as they get some crud in them.

I have tried it on the ground and there isn't as much assistance as there needs to be.

I guess I should mention I'm trying to steer 36x12.50 TSLs. The old set up worked fine though (one handed stearing at idle at a stop.) The new system requires me to turn the wheel with both arms even while moving under power.)

Yes, I have air in my tires.

Tito · Dec 31, 2008

My Explorer pump moves my 36" Iroks pretty easily, more so under power. I also have hydroboost hooked up.

Interested to see if Lars can find a way to upgrade the pump, not that I am having issues but doesnt everyone want more power?

RnrdTheFox · Dec 31, 2008

recoiljunky said:
So that area in the pump that my high pressure hose mates to is supposed to move?

The fitting on my new hgh pressure hose is a little longer than the old one. It screws in a little farther than the old one. Could this make a difference.

I really no nothing about power steering pumps.

I noticed that the mating surface in the pump on mine moved too when I tightened down the new fitting. It did it on all three pumps I tried when I was trying to solve a whinning problem associated with engine speed. Make sure you haven't lost your o-ring. Once when I didn't have my fitting seated properly, the pump would never kick on.

recoiljunky · Dec 31, 2008

I still have my o-ring. Maybe it just needs more bleeding.

Thanks for confirming my suspicion about the mating surface moving.

RnrdTheFox · Dec 31, 2008

lars said:
Funny you should ask. I have one apart on my workbench. There is a pressure relief spool in the pressure port that looks similar to the one in a Saginaw pump, except that unlike the latter, the Explorer (C3 pump) part is swaged together so you can't disassemble/modify it, or at least not easily. I'm looking into upgrade options. If I'm successful (and maybe even if I'm not) I'll report back here. I have a lot to learn. Just because I have one apart doesn't mean I understand exactly how it works. Etc, etc.

I would be interested in what you find out and if you are able to get more flow/pressure. I tried drilling out the restrictor hole slightly to see if that made a difference but I didn't notice much change. Was going to modifiy the spring, but never tried that.

lars · Jan 1, 2009

Some preliminary information. Santa's elves managed to get me a new CIII pump off a 6 liter Superduty to play with. The Explorer pump is also a CIII pump, and with both on the bench the similarities are obvious, but in typical Ford fashion they customized the things so they aren't interchangeable, unlike the venerable Saginaw. Anyway, I gutted both the SD pump and a spare Exploder pump I had, and compared. The SD pump's high pressure section is more nicely shaped, presumably for more flow. The flow control piston on the SD model has bigger holes in the pressure relief area. What that means, I can't say. I don't know enough about how they work to have a clue.

I took a die grinder to the spare Exploder housing and tried to make it look more like the SD housing. The latter has metal in places that the former lacks, so I couldn't get it exact, but it's better- hopefully, more flow. When I was done I moved the pump guts and flow control piston to the Exploder housing and reassembled.

Numbers: I have no way to measure flow, so no comparisons there. Too bad, since I spent all that time with the die grinder. Oh well. I did put a pressure gage on my installed Exploder pump before I pulled it. Got 1300 psi max with some revs and the steering at full lock. At idle and no load, 100-ish.

With the SD guts in the modified housing, I still saw 100-ish at idle, no load. But turning the wheel would bog the engine. Obviously the modded pump was trying to consume more power. At 2000 rpm and full lock the modified pump managed 1800 psi.

If I had more energy I'd try swapping the SD flow control piston into my otherwise unmodified Exploder pump. Could be that it's the biggest part of the equation.

recoiljunky · Jan 16, 2009

Aaaarrrggggg!!!

This !@#$%^& thing is frustrating me!

Everytime I mess with it, my hose springs a catastrophic leak. Now, I've got all the leaks fixed but I'm still getting unsatisfactory performance from my power steering. It steers fair while moving but Lou Ferrigno couldn't turn the wheels at a stop.

I've tried trimming the fitting that goes into the pump because it seemed a little long and someone else on this board fixed his steering problem this way. Either it helped some or my arms are getting stronger, I'm not sure.

Should I replace the pump? I guess I'll have a spare if swapping it doesn't cure the problem. Is the pully pressed on? Is swapping the pump easy to do without a press?

Can I shim the fitting up? I've tried placing a washer in between the fitting and the power steering pump. I think I need a bigger spacer. Any ideas?

Anyone got a gallon of gas and a match?

Thanks in advance.

Viperwolf1 · Jan 16, 2009

recoiljunky said:
Aaaarrrggggg!!!

This !@#$%^& thing is frustrating me!

Everytime I mess with it, my hose springs a catastrophic leak. Now, I've got all the leaks fixed but I'm still getting unsatisfactory performance from my power steering. It steers fair while moving but Lou Ferrigno couldn't turn the wheels at a stop.

I've tried trimming the fitting that goes into the pump because it seemed a little long and someone else on this board fixed his steering problem this way. Either it helped some or my arms are getting stronger, I'm not sure.

Should I replace the pump? I guess I'll have a spare if swapping it doesn't cure the problem. Is the pully pressed on? Is swapping the pump easy to do without a press?

Can I shim the fitting up? I've tried placing a washer in between the fitting and the power steering pump. I think I need a bigger spacer. Any ideas?

Anyone got a gallon of gas and a match?

Thanks in advance.

Just run a stripped wire into your tank and connect it to the battery.

J/K. I'd try another junk yard pump. The pulley is bolted on. No special tools required.

recoiljunky · Jan 16, 2009

Stripped wire, huh? I hadn't thought of that. LOL

We're a little junkyard-poor around here, but I'll call the couple we have.

Thanks.

RnrdTheFox · Jan 16, 2009

recoiljunky said:
Aaaarrrggggg!!!

This !@#$%^& thing is frustrating me!

Everytime I mess with it, my hose springs a catastrophic leak. Now, I've got all the leaks fixed but I'm still getting unsatisfactory performance from my power steering. It steers fair while moving but Lou Ferrigno couldn't turn the wheels at a stop.

I've tried trimming the fitting that goes into the pump because it seemed a little long and someone else on this board fixed his steering problem this way. Either it helped some or my arms are getting stronger, I'm not sure.

Should I replace the pump? I guess I'll have a spare if swapping it doesn't cure the problem. Is the pully pressed on? Is swapping the pump easy to do without a press?

Can I shim the fitting up? I've tried placing a washer in between the fitting and the power steering pump. I think I need a bigger spacer. Any ideas?

Anyone got a gallon of gas and a match?

Thanks in advance.

Couple of questions:

Do you have the right fitting?

If so, why do you think it's too long??

If it doesn't seat properly with the o-ring and depth wise, I don't think it will work properly. When I didn't have mine seated properly, it never worked right. And, when I tried the wrong fitting, it would never seal. FWIW, the first pump that I tried, I could never get the "correct" fitting to work. Don't know why. I got tired of messing with it and got another one at the salvage yard and figured I'd used the first one for spare parts....

Also, the pully isn't pressed on.

Explorer Power Steering Pump Not Working

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