1996 Ford Windstar power steering noise/hose hookup

DAVIDFARR3000

MEMBER
1996 FORD WINDSTAR
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
250,000 MILES

I recently replaced my power steering pump and realized that it was leaking after I did that, so I replaced the pressure hose, but in doing so I unhooked all hoses and can remember which way they go, I know where the pressure hose hooks up on pump but I dont know where the hose that connects to return goes and also the other gose that is rubber that connects to pump, I got mixed up, does it matter which way they go?

1 Reply

SCHRIMPIEMAN

MECHANIC
166 POSTS

It makes a big difference how the hoses are connected. The low pressure hose cannot handle the high pressure generated by the pump, nor will your rack/pinion function correctly if the connections are reversed.
The general fluid flow is as follows:

From output of pump, you may have a pipe running along the lower frame rail under (and in front of) the radiator. This portion is to cool off the pwr steering fluid. Then it should flow to the rack/pinion. Then it travels in larger, low-pressure hose to the inlet of the pump.

If I remember correctly, the rack/pinion has two different size screw fittings so the connections cannot be reversed.

The return hose (attached at the pump) you refer to should run directly to the rack/pinion.