Power Steering Pump Upgrade

[duh09]

Hey folks,

Doing a bit of digging and coming up empty-handed, may be chasing my tail a bit here.

In pulling my motor and tearing down everything, I ended up breaking the power steering pump pulley while attempting to pull it off. The puller ended up ripping the lip off of the end of the pulley as it was apparently pretty well seized on the shaft. I didn't think much of it because I didn't realize these damn pulleys are unobtanium. I ended up prying on the pulley enough to pull the whole bracket off the motor so it is 1000% toast. My original gameplan was new pulley and a new pump while I'm there but the only option I can find for a new pulley is Wazee's billet pulley for $130. Looks nice, but that gives me basically a one-time use pulley with it being aluminum. I sell these reman'd pumps for a living and although I don't see a lot of them come back, I know they're not going to last like a OE one would which means in the off chance this pump dies in the near future, I'll be out another $130 for a new pulley again. There are a couple OE pulley's on eBay but they are at or above the $200 mark and that's bananas.

I've went down the rabbit hole in trying to see if anyone has ran a different pump on these cars and coming up pretty empty handed. I know Saginaw pumps are a common upgrade on the trucks, but they have OE brackets with the Econoline vans to make that work like gravy. It seems like out factory pumps have a lot more offset from the pump to the shaft so building a bracket to slap a Type II might be a little difficult.

Has anyone else ran a different than OE style pump with success on a 94/95 car? Are there any options I am overlooking?

 

[lwarrior1016]

Just get the Holley accessory drive for it. It’ll solve all of your power steering pump, alternator bracket, and water pump bolt problems.

 

[duh09]

Just get the Holley accessory drive for it. It’ll solve all of your power steering pump, alternator bracket, and water pump bolt problems.

For the $2k that costs, I could do a lot more trick stuff and still be able to use my Vortech lol

 

[95opal]

Hey folks,

Doing a bit of digging and coming up empty-handed, may be chasing my tail a bit here.

In pulling my motor and tearing down everything, I ended up breaking the power steering pump pulley while attempting to pull it off. The puller ended up ripping the lip off of the end of the pulley as it was apparently pretty well seized on the shaft. I didn't think much of it because I didn't realize these damn pulleys are unobtanium. I ended up prying on the pulley enough to pull the whole bracket off the motor so it is 1000% toast. My original gameplan was new pulley and a new pump while I'm there but the only option I can find for a new pulley is Wazee's billet pulley for $130. Looks nice, but that gives me basically a one-time use pulley with it being aluminum. I sell these reman'd pumps for a living and although I don't see a lot of them come back, I know they're not going to last like a OE one would which means in the off chance this pump dies in the near future, I'll be out another $130 for a new pulley again. There are a couple OE pulley's on eBay but they are at or above the $200 mark and that's bananas.

I've went down the rabbit hole in trying to see if anyone has ran a different pump on these cars and coming up pretty empty handed. I know Saginaw pumps are a common upgrade on the trucks, but they have OE brackets with the Econoline vans to make that work like gravy. It seems like out factory pumps have a lot more offset from the pump to the shaft so building a bracket to slap a Type II might be a little difficult.

Has anyone else ran a different than OE style pump with success on a 94/95 car? Are there any options I am overlooking?

Back when I had PS I ran the Waze pulley and had it on and off a few times no issue. I wouldn't worry about it not coming back off. Your original pulley was more than likely rusted on. With the proper puller you should not have any issues.

 

[duh09]

Back when I had PS I ran the Waze pulley and had it on and off a few times no issue. I wouldn't worry about it not coming back off. Your original pulley was more than likely rusted on. With the proper puller you should not have any issues.

It was firmly seized on. I was using a proper puller, it just ended up yanking the lip off of the pulley. I lucked up and found a used OE one locally.

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

Hey folks,

Doing a bit of digging and coming up empty-handed, may be chasing my tail a bit here.

In pulling my motor and tearing down everything, I ended up breaking the power steering pump pulley while attempting to pull it off. The puller ended up ripping the lip off of the end of the pulley as it was apparently pretty well seized on the shaft. I didn't think much of it because I didn't realize these damn pulleys are unobtanium. I ended up prying on the pulley enough to pull the whole bracket off the motor so it is 1000% toast. My original gameplan was new pulley and a new pump while I'm there but the only option I can find for a new pulley is Wazee's billet pulley for $130. Looks nice, but that gives me basically a one-time use pulley with it being aluminum. I sell these reman'd pumps for a living and although I don't see a lot of them come back, I know they're not going to last like a OE one would which means in the off chance this pump dies in the near future, I'll be out another $130 for a new pulley again. There are a couple OE pulley's on eBay but they are at or above the $200 mark and that's bananas.

I've went down the rabbit hole in trying to see if anyone has ran a different pump on these cars and coming up pretty empty handed. I know Saginaw pumps are a common upgrade on the trucks, but they have OE brackets with the Econoline vans to make that work like gravy. It seems like out factory pumps have a lot more offset from the pump to the shaft so building a bracket to slap a Type II might be a little difficult.

Has anyone else ran a different than OE style pump with success on a 94/95 car? Are there any options I am overlooking?

I have always thought about the Saginaw pump upgrade on a Mustang, but I always say its not worth the effort. The whine is part of the charm. There is a solution for you though. Instead of changing the pump style, you can go pick up a power steering pulley off a 3.8L Mustang (there are a couple other vehicles that may use it, like the Thunderbird), and use it. It is a little bigger, so the pump will turn slower, but so long as the one power steering line closest to the battery is not in contact with the pulley, you should be ok. you will probably need a new belt.

 

[07GtS197]

I’ve never tried it but I read that synthetic fluid is supposed to quiet them down. The pump in my 87 Grand Marquis is a little noisy with type f fluid and a rebuilt pump. The pump in my 90 Grand Marquis is quiet and I think it’s original, but it does leak a little bit.

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

I’ve never tried it but I read that synthetic fluid is supposed to quiet them down. The pump in my 87 Grand Marquis is a little noisy with type f fluid and a rebuilt pump. The pump in my 90 Grand Marquis is quiet and I think it’s original, but it does leak a little bit.

So long as it is thicker, it should quiet it down. The long term effects are the issue, but if the pump is already old it doesn't matter.

 

[cobrajeff96]

If the lip of the pulley came off, you were using 'not the best' puller. You want the puller that notches onto the hub of the pulley.

Don't use synthetic fluid in a Ford p/s system whether or not it's hydroboost. Talk to the folks at Swepco. They have the right additive package that'll prevent aeration and foaming, which is the root cause of pump cavitation and quickly accelerates wear on the vanes inside the pump. It's even better than OE Ford p/s fluid which is usually just some type of ATF.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Ford CII Power Steering Pump Replacement

The Ford CII power steering pump has long been known to be an inferior pump that frequently fails prematurely. Our solution to this was to have our own steering pump housing made that takes tried and true Saginaw internals. So now there is a bolt in option for all CII applications. This pump...

leepowersteering.com

Supposedly it's a C2 pump with Saginaw internals. Haven't tried it but it's on my list of things to do. I run hydroboost and it would be nice to ditch the whine.

 

[07GtS197]

If the lip of the pulley came off, you were using 'not the best' puller. You want the puller that notches onto the hub of the pulley.

Don't use synthetic fluid in a Ford p/s system whether or not it's hydroboost. Talk to the folks at Swepco. They have the right additive package that'll prevent aeration and foaming, which is the root cause of pump cavitation and quickly accelerates wear on the vanes inside the pump. It's even better than OE Ford p/s fluid which is usually just some type of ATF.

What’s the reason not to use synthetic power steering fluid?

 

[duh09]

I have always thought about the Saginaw pump upgrade on a Mustang, but I always say its not worth the effort. The whine is part of the charm. There is a solution for you though. Instead of changing the pump style, you can go pick up a power steering pulley off a 3.8L Mustang (there are a couple other vehicles that may use it, like the Thunderbird), and use it. It is a little bigger, so the pump will turn slower, but so long as the one power steering line closest to the battery is not in contact with the pulley, you should be ok. you will probably need a new belt.

Today on I’m petty and work in parts and you’re wrong.



OE 94/95 V8 pulley on the left, OE almost every other Ford pulley, specifically 1994 V6 pulley on the right. The offset for most accessories on a 94/95 V8 Mustang is unique to these cars for whatever reason.

Hence the reason for starting a conversation to see if anyone has built brackets or modified brackets to run non-OE style pumps.

If the lip of the pulley came off, you were using 'not the best' puller. You want the puller that notches onto the hub of the pulley.

Don't use synthetic fluid in a Ford p/s system whether or not it's hydroboost. Talk to the folks at Swepco. They have the right additive package that'll prevent aeration and foaming, which is the root cause of pump cavitation and quickly accelerates wear on the vanes inside the pump. It's even better than OE Ford p/s fluid which is usually just some type of ATF.

Correct tool was used, correct procedures were followed- the pulley was and continues to be seized on the shaft.

I run Swepco in my rock crawlers- it’s pricey but absolutely handles heat better than most off the shelf fluids. I’m still not sold on them being significantly better with preventing foaming as both rigs still foam- but it is less. The heat handling at low speed twisting those tires is a significant improvement however.

I don’t inherently have a problem with the pump itself but don’t like having limited options for future work. A Type II swap is still something I might look into later on down the road as they’re available anywhere and pulley options for it are near limitless but the OE pulley I found will do the job for the foreseeable future regardless

 

[Terrorist 5.0]

Today on I’m petty and work in parts and you’re wrong.

View attachment 39556

OE 94/95 V8 pulley on the left, OE almost every other Ford pulley, specifically 1994 V6 pulley on the right. The offset for most accessories on a 94/95 V8 Mustang is unique to these cars for whatever reason.

Hence the reason for starting a conversation to see if anyone has built brackets or modified brackets to run non-OE style pumps.



Correct tool was used, correct procedures were followed- the pulley was and continues to be seized on the shaft.

I run Swepco in my rock crawlers- it’s pricey but absolutely handles heat better than most off the shelf fluids. I’m still not sold on them being significantly better with preventing foaming as both rigs still foam- but it is less. The heat handling at low speed twisting those tires is a significant improvement however.

I don’t inherently have a problem with the pump itself but don’t like having limited options for future work. A Type II swap is still something I might look into later on down the road as they’re available anywhere and pulley options for it are near limitless but the OE pulley I found will do the job for the foreseeable future regardless

Never noticed that wow, I’ve just seen so many 5.0L threads of people doing this mod with success. Maybe they only apply to the Foxbody then.

 

[cobrajeff96]

If there's still churning or bubbles in the system, likely there is a leak somewhere which will also cause or exacerbate the whining noise. Granted, these are 90s OE designs that only need to get the owner to complete a warranty term (3 yr/36k mi). A teflon o-ring face seal on a ~1250 psi port is a sufficient design for this, but only this. I'm actually surprise they last as long as they do given this design compared to something like an AN fitting or a GM type-II design. Ford simply low-balled us all in the 90s and earlier, nothing much more to say on it.

 

[07GtS197]

I’m still curious why it’s best to not run synthetic power steering fluid.

 

[cobrajeff96]

You're experimenting with additive packages in full synth that might cause harm to seals and possibly even the bearings and vanes inside the pump, especially ones where the vanes are made of plastic (plastic, can you believe it?). Granted, it's probably unlikely but it's the owner rolling the dice with increasingly rare OEM pumps. With the Ford C-III pump I previously ran, only Mercon V went inside it, a semi-synth blend.

I did a 80k mile ATF fluid flush in my '18 Fusion's CVT and good thing I used the OE Ford Mercon LV because come to find out if I didn't I ran the risk of the fluid attacking the electromagnetic windings inside the thing (hybrid drive). So... pay attention to the details.