[lvsqcsl]

Hi Guys,

A good friend of mine has an '03 Excursion Eddie Bauer with the 7.3 liter engine and it is 4X4. The power steering pump recently started making a growling noise (none like I have ever heard). It occurs when you turn the wheel to the right and to the left, but the growling is louder one direction than the other.

1) Is that an indication that that pump is going south?

2) Doesn't that run the hydroboost for the brakes?

3) The fluid looks good and clear and the level is right on the money.

The truck has about 85,000 miles on it. What should I do? Replace the pump? If so what is the approximate cost? New or rebuild?

Also, the tubes coming from the "Y" and the turbo have an oily residue on them. Do those need to be replaced, tightened? Thanks in advance. Craig

 

[Graupp]

I weigh in on this and hazard "ONLY" a guess!!!

With 85,000 miles, it would seem you should change/flush the unit!!!!

I had a swishing noise, from my brake pedal, and it drove me nuts...

So I took the ""CHEAPO" route, and bought a cheap little hand pump from WallyWorld, and EXTRACTED 12 oz of brake fluid, and 6 oz of power steering fluid, repeating the process 3-4 times over a 2 month period....

SOLVED THE PROBLEM.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It's the easist 'cheapest', thing you could try, buying the pump, in the marine section, and a a quart of ATF in the auto section, and repeating the process a couple of times... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[lvsqcsl]

Thanks for your reply, 'XS,

As it turns out, my friend's wife heard the noise and described it as a "growling" noise. I went to the house and had her replicate the noise. Every time she would bounce over a bump in the driveway, I heard something that sounded like an old bed or perhaps a creaky door in some of the old "B" movies. I do believe we have ball joint problems and I have already looked at replacing them. She went on to say that at one point she could move the steering wheel from side to side and it again sounded like an old bed.

We are going to change the power steering fluid, though. It is a 7.3 so we are going to change the radiator hoses to the dual alternator option and flush the system.

I listened to the power steering pump and it didn't sound too bad.

I have got one more question. Does that '03 have needle bearings on that Dana 60? I have been told they do not. Thanks for the reply.

 

[lvsqcsl]

***UPDATE***

Hi again, guys,

Tore that Excursion down and sure enough the balljoints were full of rust. They were also loose. Everything came apart and went together fairly well. I got to the dealership and the men at the parts counter saw that I was buying those rubber seal-like discs that go around the splined shaft that comes through the hub assembly. I inspected the old ones and they were deteriorated and IMO needed to be replaced. (The old ones were crumbling) They said that I needed some special tool from Rotunda? to properly install those rubber seal discs. They said that those engage the 4-wheel-drive when you activate that rotary switch on the dash by-way-of vacuum, hence the vacuum hose connected to it.

That special tool was expensive and I was just wondering if I really needed it? Thanks in advance. Craig.

 

[southmike]

some places will let you borrow the tool check advance napa etc...

sounds like joints are bad as as they had play
but old mattress sound is more likley your front sway bar
..the down links go bad and the poly bushing can bark too.
down links were cheap...I could be wrong but thats what happened on my truck also they told me to lube the front springs .

on my f350 I have leaf springs on the front .
but not sure if the ex has coils or leaf springs. If it has coils then it won't work.


if it does get a can of anti seize. a greasy grey looking paste and carefully lube the contact points of the springs. jack the truck up to open the springs a little and get a something really thin and work it in the leaves ( i used a piece of cardbord from a cereal box)
wipe off the excess, and dont get any on brakes etc...I would lay a tarp down under the wheel and wear latex gloves ....it is messy, and hard to get off driveway.

thats what cured my squeaks

 

[lvsqcsl]

Thanks for your reply, 'mike,

I just went ahead and bought the tool because I have 4 other trucks that I will eventually be repairing. It wasn't bad, about $56.00.

I will keep the tips that you gave me in mind, though.

All Excursions have leaf springs from the factory. Even my '05 does. My '05 Superduty has coils. Go figure. Thanks for your reply. Craig. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif