LSC rack with non-LSC pump, what happens?

[gadget73]

I've rebuilt the front end on my car with all new parts. The steering rack is a reman Napa unit, ordered for the performance steering option (LSC). The steering wheel has a chatter to it if I crank the wheel over, mostly when parking or something of that nature. I suspect its a problem with the pump. The pump has been replaced in the past, and I notice per the shop manual that there are 2 power steering pumps, one for the performance steering, one without. The performance steering pump has a higher flow rate, but works at the same pressure. If I had the wrong pump on the car, could it cause the chattering? The pump isn't making any other abnormal noises, and isn't leaking. The fluid has been flushed twice and isn't nasty.

[Nophix]

Sounds more like the system still has air in it.

[NYC LS8]

I ran a Mustang pump on mine with no issues. Might be like was mentioned - maybe there's air in there still...?

[mark007]

maybe like the others said there's air in the system, but also is the system full? if not the pump might be cavitating(sp) when power assit is needed only. thats just a guess. are all your lines crimp and kink free?

[gadget73]

fluid is full, lines aren't kinked or crimped. They're all new as well. The pump isn't moaning or anything like its got air in it, but I'll mess with it and see if I can get more out.

[Nick]

If I remember right, if you don't match pumps to racks, you will have a situation of sudden assist loss for the performance rack and non-performance pump combo. I'm not sure what happens the other way. People have tried it and some say it's fine, but it was specifically recommended against in print media. I wouldn't try it...

My experience with avg reman pumps are less than stellar. I've gotten two from Advance. My next pump will be an AGR or a Ford Reman.

[mark007]

If I remember right, if you don't match pumps to racks, you will have a situation of sudden assist loss for the performance rack and non-performance pump combo. I'm not sure what happens the other way. People have tried it and some say it's fine, but it was specifically recommended against in print media. I wouldn't try it...

My experience with avg reman pumps are less than stellar. I've gotten two from Advance. My next pump will be an AGR or a Ford Reman.

+1 on the AGR unit. i cant wait to see how much better the one i had custom built feels.

[gadget73]

Not sure if this might be a clue, but I just drove the car and its OK. It seems to get worse as it warms up and the fluid thins out. I verified the level was fine. The death moan has gotten a lot quieter, so I think there was some air in there which has been worked out. Its still a bit on the noisy side, but nothing horrible compared to some of the Ford pumps I've heard. I know when those balls get loose in the rotor, it makes noise, and probably doesn't pump as well. I'm thinking thats my problem with this thing.

The mix and match wouldn't have been anything I intentionally did. I replaced the rack with the LSC one. The pump was done at a shop before I owned it. Not a clue what they used, or if they were familier with the two different steering systems. I'm not super confident in the work. I have receipts for 2 racks in 20k miles, which is excessive. The rack when I got the car was supposed to be 10k miles old per the receipts. It had bad inner tie rod ends and the wheel bobbled and jerked all over the place. The rest of the suspension was dead too so I don't know how much may have been the rack and how much was something else, but theres no way an inner tie rod should have visible play in 10k miles. The car had a new rag joint put on, and there are no receipts. I strongly suspect the guy was billed for a rack and got a rag joint instead. I know the pump is not original, but who knows what it was replaced with. I was planning to replace the pump anyhow, but I was curious if that sounded like it was my problem, or if there was something else I needed to be looking for.

I'll try a Napa steering pump. I get pretty good service from them. If its no good, I'll return it and go with an OEM pump. I definitely understand about the lack of intrest in defective parts. I'm to and beyond that point. Remember I'm the guy who has to install water pumps every 10k miles on the Towncar because they all seem to be garbage. I'm hoping thats not a trend with the VII as well. I was stuck using a Napa reman pump (which looked brand new when I opened it up, definitely not a Ford casting) mostly because it was all I could get on short notice. I do not want to be doing 2 water pumps a year.

[Nick]

For the price, it's hard to beat a regular output Ford Racing pump. It seems really close to the Motorcraft one but without the warranty. I've had no issues on both of mine.

Rack jobs aren't fun. I did two thanks to a POS reman from Cardone. They're black listed for me.

[gadget73]

eh, racks are pretty simple really. Wigging the rack out of there was a bit interesting but once I figured out which way to hold my mouth it literally fell out. The quality of Cardone parts is getting questionable these days. I think they outsource to China or something. I remember doing several steering boxes on a friend's customer's car because they kept leaking at the seals. Not acceptable when the reman box is $280.

I'll look into the Ford Racing pump, if I can get their site to load without crashing my browser. It doesn't seem to like flash too much

[demonswede]

rack to LSC & kept my original pump - with no problems at all!!

[marked for life]

Remove ALL power steering fluid from the pump by removing the lower hose and then add a can of Lucas stop chatter fluid (12 ounce I think) to it then top it off and drive it. This stuff works...

[gadget73]

well, it quit chattering on it's own. I think I'm going to leave well enough alone for a while. Must have been some air in the system that I didn't get out.

The Lucas is good stuff. I used it on my Towncar and it shut the pump up rather effectively. 22 years and 175k on the original pump, and its as quiet as a new one now.