Power steering shuddering badly?

Tiny
ARUSHO
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD RANGER
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 300,000 MILES
The saga continues on this truck listed above. I installed a new power steering pump and steering rack. New pressure lines also. I filled it with Mercon V automatic transmission fluid and have been trying to bleed it for a month now. I jacked it up, fille the fluid, (truck not running) and turned the wheel slowly (probably 200 times by now) and finally seems I got the fluid out. Now when I run the engine, I turn the wheel back and forth (pump is very quiet), and there is a slight shudder. Then I tried some small slow turns of the wheel, and the shuddering got completely out of control and shook the entire truck! I had to turn it off to make it stop! The fluid is not foamy, there appears to be no bubbles. I just can't figure out what is wrong. I must be air in the system? I don't know anymore.
Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 AT 7:00 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
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If the fluid is not foamy there is no air in the system, but I have seen defective steering racks cause this issue. Anytime you replace the rack or pump raise the front of the truck up and start the engine while keeping an eye on the P/S fluid level. Then slowly turn the wheel from lock to lock without load on the front tires. Let me know how it goes.
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Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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Tonight I jacked up the front and made sure the reservoir was full. I did not run it at first, I turned the wheel back and forth for about 20 minutes, (still seeing bubbles) then I ran it and filled up the fluid to make sure I could not see the pump. Because last week, I could see bare metal at the pump which I thought was odd. This time I purposely filled it up too much to make sure I could not see the pump through the filler hole. The fluid went down quite a bit and so I filled it up as it ran. I turned the wheel while running and the steering still shuddered, and this time there was foamy fluid. Then I turned it off again and the fluid spilled up and out of the filler tube and all over the floor. I then turned the wheel again while it was not running and saw less bubbles. Then I ran it again and repeat above.
I bled it four about one hour tonight. I am going to let it sit overnight and do it again tomorrow and I will do this until there is no more shuddering. Thanks for your help!
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Thursday, March 20th, 2025 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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If air keeps getting into the system, the pump is bad due to a faulty seal FYI, let me know how it goes and have a good weekend.
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Friday, March 21st, 2025 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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The pump is new, FYI.
I tried again tonight, and it is shuddering so badly when I turn the wheel, it is undriveable, and I am really just getting nowhere. There are still bubbles coming out of the reservoir when the truck is off, and I turn the wheel. There is foam when the truck is on, and I turn the wheel. But like I said, it shudders so badly I have to turn it off. I might put the old steering rack back in because maybe this new one is faulty. Or maybe the new pump is bad? The power steering is very quiet, so it's confusing to me why it won't bleed. Everything is tight. 6pm now. I have discovered while turning left, the vehicle shakes violently and turning right it is perfect. Now I think the Steering Rack is bad. So I am going to take that out and put the original one back in. What do you think?
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Friday, March 21st, 2025 AT 4:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Usually air in the system means pump but if it turns okay one way and not the other, I would swap the rack out.
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Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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I swapped the rack and it's okay with no weight on it, but when I lower the truck to the ground, it shudders in both directions when I turn the wheel. I guess it's the pump. I checked the hoses and put on EFI clamps on the return line and on the oil cooler.
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Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, I thought it was the pump in the first place, the turn either direction fooled me. Sorry.
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Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 AT 10:19 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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Okay, brand new pump is in and the problem remains. I drove it around tonight and took a left hard turn in my cul-de-sac and it started to make bad whining noises, so I turned it off and looked at the reservoir and there was still foam in the fluid. I can't figure out what is wrong now.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 AT 7:29 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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You have a strange problem, so to recap, you replaced the pump, the rack and the hoses? Does it seem to turn okay with the weight off? If so, the problem might be in the suspension/steering components.
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Friday, April 4th, 2025 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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I replaced the rack (Detroit Axle) and that one did not work; I replaced it with the original rack. I installed a new pump, then I replaced that thinking it was bad with another new pump. New hoses, EFI clamps, new high-pressure hose, new low-pressure hose. Teflon fittings are new. The Teflon seals were a little easy to get on, but I don't think that is the problem. If I let it sit, then jack it up and turn the wheel, more bubbles arrive out of nowhere. I think the problem is that it is sucking in air, and I can't figure out where it's coming from. I tried to do the vacuum test, but I can't find a good adapter that fits, I ordered 3 different ones and none of them fit in the reservoir filler tube. So, I used some tape and wrapped it around the fitting and jammed the fitting into the reservoir neck and it was tight, but putting vacuum on the pump shows 2-5 psi or less and goes back down quickly.
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Friday, April 4th, 2025 AT 8:22 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The only place the system can suck air and not leak fluid is the pump.
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Saturday, April 5th, 2025 AT 11:17 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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Okay, so it appears I have been bleeding this wrong. When I run the truck, the level goes down. While it is running, I have been adding fluid because I can see the metal housing (slightly). Then when I turn it off, it overflows, and air is in the system. My research shows that I should only fill it when it is not running, or it will chop up the new incoming fluid and introduce air into the system. Does that sound correct? Am I doing this wrong?
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Sunday, April 6th, 2025 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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I have never added fluid while running so I guess it might cause a problem. I would have the truck off and then fill the fluid to the correct level and then start the truck and see what happens.
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Monday, April 7th, 2025 AT 10:56 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
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Yes, I had the truck running while adding and that was not a good idea by me. Now I have finally fixed it. What I ended up doing was buying pump #3 and I installed that. At first it did not work. In the morning, I had the idea to run the truck, turn the wheel all the way to the right and turn the truck off. I let the truck sit all day while I was at work. That night I came home I ran the truck again and turned the wheel all the way to the left and turned the truck off. This time I let it sit for 20 minutes, then I turned the wheel back and forth while running and suddenly it stopped shuddering and started working perfectly. Thanks again!
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Sunday, June 22nd, 2025 AT 3:09 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Perfect! It must have had air in the system, glad you got it fixed! Visit back any time.
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Monday, June 23rd, 2025 AT 9:13 AM

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