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  #1  
Old 10-26-2012, 02:34 PM
heath326 heath326 is offline
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Default Power steering groans when steering slightly left

A few years ago I rebuilt the 2.3 in my Ranger. I had the engine out for a few months. The power steering was working fine. No problems there at all. When I pulled the engine, I didn't even disconnect the pump. I just pulled it and laid it over on it's side out of the way. Once I got the motor back in and things were back to normal, I noticed that when I steered ever so slightly to the left (truck has always pulled to the right a little) the power steering would groan and I could feel a vibration in the floorboard. If I turn farther to the left it stops as if it passes through the bad spot. It doesn't happen when I turn right at all. Only when I drive in a straight line for example and hold just a little tension on the wheel to keep the truck from pulling to the right. I tried bleeding the pump by raising the front end off the ground and turning the wheel lock to lock twenty times. I replaced the pump. I still had the problem. I replaced the gearbox. Still had a problem with the exact same description. I replaced the PS hoses! Anfd I still had the same problem. I have good brakes and wheel bearings. My ball joints and tie rods and suspension links are all good. The problem is basically that whenever I apply slight torque to the pump it groans. If I apply more torque it clears up. Again, I did not have any noise prior to letting the original pump lay on its side (still connected) for four months. The noise appeared after I re-installed the pump and starting using the truck again. The hoses are not touching the frame. Everything is tight. No belt alignment problems. Nothing appears to be out of kilter. Do I have a bad tennsioner pulley that makes noise when the load on the belt changes? What is the deal here? I don't have any other steering noise or anything like the typical steering noises I see described in so many threads. If the problem didn't start until I rebuilt the motor, you know removaed and reinstalled it, and changing the ps pump, gearbox and hoses didn't fix it then it's probably not coming from the ps system is it? Anybody else have a problem like this?
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'92 Ranger 2.3 2WD single cab short bed

all new engine, electrical, fuel, power steering, cooling. Yes, really. All of it is new. Every single component. Built like a circle track motor with all the goodies.
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  #2  
Old 10-26-2012, 02:47 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

well, if you swap the tensioner, then you'll have a brand new truck lol!

i'm not very familiar with older rangers. is it rack/pinion?

you said you replaced the gearbox. what all did that consist of?
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  #3  
Old 10-26-2012, 03:24 PM
heath326 heath326 is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

What you said about replacing the tensioner made me smile because it's true. The steering gearbox was held to the left frame channel with two long bolts. I used an impact driver and sockets to remove the pitman arm nut from the gearbox. I let the pitman arm and linkage dangle for a minute. I removed the ps hoses from the gear box with a wrench and used the impact driver to remove the two long mounting bolts for the gearbox. Heavy awckward gearbox came out, new heavy awckward gearbox went up against frame rail. Bolts went in. Hoses reconnected from under the hood. Pitman arm went back onto splined shaft. Pretty easy, really. About 25 minutes total. You're going to want a set of big impact sockets, though for the pitman arm nut.I didn't need a puller for the pitman arm. I used a pry bar and a hammer.
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'92 Ranger 2.3 2WD single cab short bed

all new engine, electrical, fuel, power steering, cooling. Yes, really. All of it is new. Every single component. Built like a circle track motor with all the goodies.

Last edited by heath326; 10-26-2012 at 03:28 PM.
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  #4  
Old 10-26-2012, 03:56 PM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

ok gotcha...it's a pitman arm - not rack/pinion...
well damn, ... it sounds like it is a fluttering valve ... but i'm a r&p guy, not a pitman arm guy.
if i think of anything, i'll let you know

free bump
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  #5  
Old 10-26-2012, 07:17 PM
heath326 heath326 is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

You had me at "fluttering valve". Do you mean a valve inside the ps pump? Or inside the gear box? Tell me more about this "valve". I'm not afraid to rebuild a pump or gearbox if it means I can zero in on the problem and correct it. I just need some information. Are you saying a valve inside the pump can get jittery? If so, can I OH that part or do I need to replace the assembly, ie the pump or gearbox?
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'92 Ranger 2.3 2WD single cab short bed

all new engine, electrical, fuel, power steering, cooling. Yes, really. All of it is new. Every single component. Built like a circle track motor with all the goodies.
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  #6  
Old 10-27-2012, 08:11 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

lol! like i said, i don't have any experience with the gear box. and i've never OH-ed a p/s pump. i'm just assuming it's a valve issue since everything else is new & tight. i mean, i know what it feels like when hydro. fluid overcomes a valve, but that's on tractor cylinders...it jitters lol!

just to be sure, you have a new gearbox AND a new PS pump? and did you check out your tensioner yet?

anybody else take a pump or g-box apart?
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  #7  
Old 10-17-2013, 03:57 PM
Matt51094 Matt51094 is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

Did you solve this problem? I know this is from a while ago but is there a solution i have the same problem.
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  #8  
Old 10-18-2013, 07:16 AM
heath326 heath326 is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

No still haven't solved this.
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'92 Ranger 2.3 2WD single cab short bed

all new engine, electrical, fuel, power steering, cooling. Yes, really. All of it is new. Every single component. Built like a circle track motor with all the goodies.
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  #9  
Old 10-20-2013, 08:51 AM
RoberticusMaximus RoberticusMaximus is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

i re read this & still stumped
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  #10  
Old 10-20-2013, 12:24 PM
Springtown FX4 Springtown FX4 is offline
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Default Re: Power steering groans when steering slightly left

Of all the fords ive had or been around they are notorious for whining power stearing pumps. My ranger does, ive found changing the fluid out for ATF fluid helps. Its a good place to start. Sometimes ill just empty the res with a turkey baster or pump and refill with new ATF just to keep it fresh.
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