I replaced the hose and it looks good, but pouring rain the past few days so can't test.
I asked Lee's how much for just the pump since I don't need the kit and it's not cheap but not outrageous so maybe I'll do that at some point if I ever want more. BUT, one thing I noticed on their info page is that they recommend their own PS fluid or "AC Delco or Valvoline non synthetic power steering fluid will work as a second choice" and not to "USE ATF OR ANY TYPE OF SYNTHETIC FLUID". Pretty sure the Ford spec is Type F ATF and I'm using Synthetic Amsoil Super Shift ATF (Type F Spec).
What are people's thoughts on this? Or am I opening a whole other can of worms that's already been hashed out?
Yes, it's a bad hose. No, a worm clamp is not the cause of the leak. A stainless worm clamp on a 1/2 inch hose is good for 150 psi working pressure, and 300 psi burst. The problem with a worm clamp is that it does not provide constant tension (as noted by
@Broncobowsher ) and it will destroy the hose jacket over time. But the jacket of a hose does not carry the liquid. So yes, it's a poor clamp, but NOT because it leaks on installation.
You have already opened the worm can, and now it's time to take a breath. So one question: "Are you ever going to run hydro assist?"
Everybody kinda knows this, but I'm going to repeat it here.
1. Power steering pumps are rated for a particular flow at target rpm. But we use them at idle. So the published flow rates are generally incorrect for our use case.
2. There are basically three types of power steering pump. Submerged inlet, gravity fed, and forced inlet.
3. There are several different volumes of vane pump based on pump diameter, and vane length.
3a. The names of the pumps are intentionally obscure. But Saginaw P, GM type 2, TC, CB, and CBR are most common.
Thankfully, there are aftermarket companies that have done a lot of research and measurement. And what we find out is that the large vane GM P pump produces the most volume at idle. The Ford/Thompson Bronco PS pump puts out the least. Then we learn that the gravity fed pumps can starve at high flow rates. So a ported inlet TC pump can outflow a CB pump. At the end of the day, I have concluded that it is the inlet feeding of these pumps that becomes the constraint. If you can manage to force feed the inlet, the pump can pump much more volume. But of course you need to vent it or bleed it. When I put hydro-assist on my TJ, I needed to "aim" the return port directly at the inlet port of the vanes, and it significantly increased capacity. This was achieved by just swapping the reservoir from Wrangler to Wagoneer with a "directed" return.
As soon as you install a remote vented reservoir...you have eliminated any dynamic force feed ability. Which is fine. You are just back to gravity fed, and as long as flow rates are low, there is no problem. The first failure occurs when the flow rate exceeds the gravity rate, and you starve the inlet. Somebody figured out that a 3/4 inch supply line alleviates that. The whole effort is to try to keep the inlet vanes flooded or "submerged." So you have to ask...Why not just run a submerged pump?
That's the nice thing about the Explorer serpentine "Saginaw P-pump" conversion. It starts with a submerged pump.
None of that helps you with fluid selection, but I think if you run a large vane p-pump...any fluid will work. If you run a remote reservoir TC pump...you have to do a lot more thinking.
oops, credit to
@ntsqd you posted while I was typing...
