WTF My P/S prob

[Viperwolf1]

The Lee adapter is Steel, right? The Russell fitting is aluminum. I feel better about 1600 PSI going thru a steel fitting. That aluminum fitting is going to fatigue, eventually.

Yes, the Lee adapter is steel. I would also be uneasy about using an aluminum adapter in the pressure side of the PS system.

 

[86Horn_EB_77]

This is the info on the Explorer Pump I was looking for...

Bottom line - I'm ordering the Lee Manf fitting and washer. I could probably grind more off the bottom of my Russell fitting - but it would still be an aluminum fitting with 1300-1600 PSI in it...

Current situation - my "new-rebuilt" Exploder pump is whining like a really bad SuperDuty turbo - I suspect that it is cavitating because the russel fitting is still too long.

I've had troubles with a few Explorer pumps now. Among other things they would squeak, a sound just like you'd expect if a bearing were going bad. For example, an idler pulley bearing, which is what I thought it was at first. A few minutes with a "stethoscope" (AKA piece of rubber hose) set me straight. Definitely the pump.

I got my hands on a couple of spare Explorer pumps and a C3 pump out of a late Superduty. The Explorer pumps are C3 pumps also, but the casting is unique.

The length of the pressure port fitting is critical. I don't have the exact dimension, but the fitting needs to be the same depth as the factory part. The reason is that the fitting controls the height of the little venturi that works with the control valve, which is spring-loaded to bear against the back side of the venturi port (you can see it inside the pressure port with the fitting removed). If you use a deeper fitting it forces the venturi further into the bore, and partially blocks the pressure cavity that leads from the rotary vane assembly. If it goes too high, it blocks the relief porting.

Point being that you need the right fitting in there or the pump will never work correctly, and if it's too deep it's likely cavitating, which would explain the whining.

I modified a spare Explorer pump with Superduty C3 guts, and did some porting on the housing to match the SD version. Unfortunately the pump housing has a bad shaft bearing that I still need to deal with, but the modified pump ran at 1800psi peak instead of 1300psi. Flow was likely a bit better also, but I have no way of measuring it.

One of these days I'll get around to moving the bearing from the SD housing into the Explorer housing, so I can put the modified pump back into service without my Bronco sounding as if bearings are going to start flying out of the engine compartment.

 

[86Horn_EB_77]

I still have BAD explorer Power Steering pump whine !!!

Installed the Lee fitting and aluminum washer today - STILL HAVE BAD PUMP WHINE !!!

I was running Mercon V Trans Fluid (recommended for the Explorer Pump), so I switched to Valvoline Power steering Fluid - NO CHANGE !!!

It isn't too bad at idle, but revving the engine up to 1500/2000 makes the pump sound like a bad Super Duty Turbo - not good.

I've done the engine off/engine on, brake off/on and wheel lock to lock bleed procedure - no problem with hydroboost brakes or steering - just a really noisy pump.

There's still alot of "fluid swirl" in the white plastic PS pump reservoir. It only stops swirling when I go full lock on one side. Is this normal?

The only thing I can think of is maybe the height of the PS cooler is too high - and I can't burp all the air out of it - the top hose to the cooler is close in height to the bottom of pump reservior.

ALL HELP/IDEAS appreciated !!! I'm out of things to try...

 

[beaux312]

Do you have a warranty on the pump from the parts store? If you do take it back and get another one and try it.

 

[86Horn_EB_77]

I think I need help from Lars (or PSC)

OK - time for the third pump. This one is off a 120K mile 96 Explorer Craigslist 5.0 pull-out. The fluid was beyond dirty. Cleaned it out as best I could and flushed it with brake cleaner and blew compressed air thru it.

But this is where I need expert help - this pump has a spring loaded pin/valve in the high pressure outlet port (my other two pumps don't have this pin- one pump was also a Pick n Pull find from a 99 Explorer, the other a fresh rebuild from the parts store)

Used Lee fitting and a new fresh fill of Valvoline PS fluid - NO MORE NOISE. And the fluid doesn't swirl as much in the Res - the fluid level is also much more constant as I rev it up. With the noisy pump - the level would drop and violently swirl when I revved it. But... this pump doesn't seem as strong - the steering seems weaker - I can turn my 37s in my driveway - but it is a two handed job.

I think I'm going to call PSC or West Texas Offroad - (or maybe Lars can chime in) - I think I need more output from this pump, but it seems that you can cavitate the pump if don't have the proper outlet needle valve...

I needs an Explorer pump expert !!!

 

[beaux312]

Im running a fresh rebuilt pump from Advance Auto, with 37s and a locker up front and I can turn mine while its sitting still with the brakes on. You might have gottin a bad rebulit pump. Take it back and try another one.

 

[86Horn_EB_77]

Will do - the pump is certainly going back to Advance - and I'll try another "rebuilt" one...

I sure wish Lars would do a tech article on how to port one of these Explorer pumps to increase the flow and pressure. Hint Hint...

I really don't want to buy that $300 Wild Horses Extreme pump if I don't have to... (and have to hack up my Exploder serp bracket)