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

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,193 POSTS
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.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
  • MEMBER
  • 31 POSTS
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!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, March 20th, 2025 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,193 POSTS
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.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, March 21st, 2025 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
  • MEMBER
  • 31 POSTS
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 its 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?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, March 21st, 2025 AT 4:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,193 POSTS
Usually air in the system means pump but if it turns okay one way and not the other I would swap the rack out.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
ARUSHO
  • MEMBER
  • 31 POSTS
I swapped the rack and its ok 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 its the pump. I checked the hoses and put on EFI clamps on the return line and on the oil cooler.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,193 POSTS
Yep, I thought it was the pump in the first place, the turn either direction fooled me. Sorry.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 AT 10:19 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Sputter Content

VIEW MORE