Needle Valve in Steering Pump Required?

[JoeBoomz]

Hi guys, I am swapping out a leaky steering pump. I found that my Marauder pump has a needle valve in the high pressure output where the line connects, and the replacement pump that I got from a local parts store is missing this valve. I tried to gently pull out the needle valve without any luck.

My questions is, is the needle valve required or does it simply make life easier when the high pressure line is removed so the pump doesn't drain?

I do have a set of new seals on order to rebuild my old pump but I was hoping to replace the pump in the meantime to get the car driving again ;)

[JoeBoomz]

This job's done and I wanted to post the solution here in case someone else needed it.

The needle valve can be removed from the back side of the pump (see attached diagram).

I ended up rebuilding my pump instead of replacing it because I knew it was good and quiet and it has low KM's. I decided not to take any chances putting in a rebuilt pump with god knows how many miles on it!

The rebuild kit was $14+shipping from Rock Auto (ordered online) and it was an easy job to replace the seals in the pump. Hardest part (for the pump anyway) was getting the pulley back on.

I also put a new GoodYear tensioner and GatorBack belt on when I put the pump back on again because the steering leak was causing some belt slippage. It's nice to have my Marauder back on the road again with zero leaks and no belt slippage!

[LeoVampire]

There you go not something you see too often anymore guys rebuilding instead of replacing their parts.

Something we had to learn in school when I was going for auto mechanics.

So a big :beer: to you on doing this!

[djv5150]

This job's done and I wanted to post the solution here in case someone else needed it.

The needle valve can be removed from the back side of the pump (see attached diagram).

I ended up rebuilding my pump instead of replacing it because I knew it was good and quiet and it has low KM's. I decided not to take any chances putting in a rebuilt pump with god knows how many miles on it!

The rebuild kit was $14+shipping from Rock Auto (ordered online) and it was an easy job to replace the seals in the pump. Hardest part (for the pump anyway) was getting the pulley back on.

I also put a new GoodYear tensioner and GatorBack belt on when I put the pump back on again because the steering leak was causing some belt slippage. It's nice to have my Marauder back on the road again with zero leaks and no belt slippage!

Thanks for the info, this is good solution for MM and panther platform owners with mechanical skills on a budget

[JoeBoomz]

Hardest part (for the pump anyway) was getting the pulley back on.

I recently dealt with the steering pump on my 02 Explorer and ran into similar pulley install issues. I wanted to post the solution here again because the Marauder uses the same solution.

The 92+ Ford steering pump pulley shafts have an 8 x 1.25 mm thread inside of them that is intended to be used when pressing the pulley onto the shaft. Essentially, a bolt with a nut and washer on it is screwed into the shaft and once tight, the nut is tightened against the pulley to press it onto the pump shaft.

This method exerts zero force on the pump internals, as opposed to pressing the pulley on externally against the shaft or, god forbid, trying to bang it on with a hammer (which you should NOT do).

Here's the problem - it takes a LOT of force to press the pulley back onto the shaft. A lot more than a standard bolt/nut combo can provide (believe me I've tried). A tool is required and after a ton of searching, here is what I found at http://www.toolsource.com/ford-power-steering-pump-pulley-installer-t91p3a733a-p-110878.html.


OTC Ford Power Steering Pump Pulley Installer T91P-3A733-A
Toolsource #110878
Manufacturers Part Number #7771A

$53.05





http://www.toolsource.com/images/pixel_trans.gif
(http://www.otctools.com/)

http://www.toolsource.com/prod_medium/110878.jpg


Notice the bolt is the small 8 x 1.25 mm size where it enters the pump shaft, but it gets larger for where the driving nut has to tighten.

I did not use the tool I found online. A local Auto Value store had a similar tool as part as a GM steering puller/presser kit and I used it instead to install the pulley. So if you can't seem to find one of these, look at the GM options as some as their pump shafts must also use the 8 x 1.25 mm threads.

[MOTOWN]

Nice write up bud! a few rebuilds for buds, and the tool pays for its self!

[J.bo]

Where did you get the rebuild kit?

[JoeBoomz]

The rebuild kit was $14+shipping from Rock Auto (ordered online)

..........