Section 11-00: Steering System—Service
1994 Mustang Workshop Manual
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

Symptom Chart: Steering System Diagnosis

SYMPTOM CHART: STEERING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS
ConditionPossible SourceAction
  • Wander — Condition Where the Vehicle Wanders Side-To-Side on the Roadway When it is Driven Straight Ahead While the Steering Wheel is Held in a Firm Position

    NOTE: Evaluation should be conducted on a level road (little road crown).
  • Check tire size and pressure.
  • Be sure tire sizes are correct and adjust tire pressures.
 
  • Check if vehicle is unevenly loaded or overloaded.
  • Adjust load.
 
  • Loose/worn tie rod ends or ball socket.
  • Replace tie rod end or tie rod assembly as necessary.
 
  • Steering gear mounting insulators and/or retaining bolts loose or damaged.
 
  • Loose suspension struts or ball joint(s).
 
  • Column intermediate shaft connecting bolts loose.
 
  • Column intermediate shaft joints loose/worn.
  • Replace intermediate shaft assembly.
 
  • Improper wheel alignment.
  • Pulls to One Side — A Condition Where the Vehicle Tends to Pull to One Side When Driven on a Level Surface
  • Improper tire pressure.
  • Adjust tire pressure.
 
  • Improper tire size or different type.
  • Replace as required.
 
  • Vehicle is unevenly or excessively loaded.
  • Adjust load.
 
  • Improper wheel alignment.
  • Adjust as required.
 
  • Damaged front suspension components.
 
  • Damaged rear suspension components.
 
  • Steering gear valve effort out of balance.
  • Place transmission in NEUTRAL while driving and turn engine off (coasting). If vehicle does not pull with the engine off, replace the steering gear valve assembly. Refer to Section 11-02.
  • If vehicle does drift with engine off: Cross switch front tire/wheel assemblies.If vehicle pulls to opposite side, cross switch tire/wheel assemblies that were on the rear to same side on the front.If vehicle pull direction is not changed, check front suspension components and wheel alignment.
 
  • Check front and rear brakes for proper operation.
  • Adjust if necessary.
 
  • Check for bent rear axle housing and for damaged or sagging springs in the front and/or rear suspension.
  • Replace if necessary.
 
  • Check rear suspension for loose/worn shock absorber struts, suspension arm retaining fasteners.
  • Tighten all retaining fasteners.
  • Feedback (Rattle, Chuckle, Knocking Noises in Steering Gear ) — Condition Where Roughness is Felt in the Steering Wheel by the Driver When the Vehicle is Driven Over Rough Pavement
  • Column intermediate shaft joints loose/worn.
  • Replace intermediate shaft assembly.
 
  • Loose tie rod end(s) and/or tie rod inner ball joints.
  • Replace tie rod end(s).
 
  • Steering gear mounting insulators and/or retaining bolts loose or damaged.
  • Replace retaining bolts and tighten.
 
  • Column intermediate shaft connecting bolts loose.
  • Tighten bolts to specification at steering gear 19-27 Nm (14-20 lb-ft) at column intermediate shaft 27-40 Nm (20-30 lb-ft).
 
  • Loose suspension bushings/
    fasteners or ball joints.
  • Tighten suspension fasteners, replace worn bushings, or replace ball joints.
 
  • Check column conditions.
  • Power Steering Pump Leaks
  • Excessive fluid fill.
  • Adjust fluid to proper level.
 
  • Dipstick missing, loose, damaged or missing O-ring.
  • Service or replace, if required.
 
  • Broken/cracked reservoir.
  • Replace reservoir.
 
  • Loose or damaged hose fittings.
  • Service or replace.
 
  • Leakage at shaft seal:
  • Replace power steering pump .
 
  • Shaft seal not pressed in flush with housing surface.
  • Use an appropriate seal installation tool to correct installation; if not possible or still leaking, replace seal.
 
  • Seal damage.
  • Replace seal.
 
  • Rotor shaft damage, such as helical grooving or the OD has an axial scratch.
  • Replace shaft and seal.
 
  • Shaft bushing worn.
  • Replace plate and bushing assembly.
 
  • Plugged drainback hole.
  • Disassemble power steering pump and clean drainback hole. If hole is not drilled through, replace plate and bushing assembly.
 
  • Damaged or missing reservoir O-ring.
  • Replace O-ring.
 
  • Damaged or missing outlet fitting O-rings.
  • Replace O-rings.
 
  • Loose outlet fitting.
  • Tighten as required.
 
  • Outlet fitting damaged.
  • Replace outlet fitting.
 
  • Excessive pump assembly bracket vibration.
  • Correct bracket alignment and tighten bracket bolts.
 
  • Plate and bushing reservoir seal groove porosity/damage, metal chips or foreign material on seal or in seal groove.
  • Clean groove; replace plate and bushing assembly if damaged.
  • Belt Squeal (Particularly at Full Wheel Travel and Stand Still Parking)
  • Loose belt.
  • Chirp Noise in Power Steering Pump
  • Loose or worn belt.
  • Adjust belt tension to specification or replace belt.
  • Swish Type Noise
  • A noise created by the flow of excessive fluid into the bypass port of the pump valve housing (with temperature below 130°). The shearing effect of the cooler (heavier) oil is not detrimental to pump operation.
  • A normal condition. Noise will diminish with fluid temperature increase.
  • Power Steering Pump — No or Poor Assist
  • Contamination can be caused by foreign objects in the reservoir or power steering pump , or metallic particles being generated by cam pack discrepancies.
  • System must be flushed thoroughly when installing a serviced or new pump.
  • Moan or Whine Type Noise
  • Fluid aeration.
  • Purge the power steering system to reduce aeration noise. Refer to purging procedure as outlined.
 
  • Pump brackets loose or misaligned.
  • Tighten or align as required.
 
  • Low fluid.
  • Check fluid level.
 
  • Hose grounded.
  • Check for hose being grounded.
 
  • Column grounded.
  • Check column alignment.
 
  • Damaged internal components.
  • Replace power steering pump .
  • Gear Hiss
  • Check column intermediate shaft and gear for alignment and binding.
 
  • Check for grounded or loose boot at dash panel.
  • Align boot or tighten fasteners as required. Refer to Section 11-04.
 
  • Input shaft and valve assembly.
  • Replace—only if noise is extremely objectionable. Refer to Section 11-02 for Rack and Pinion Power Gear Diagnosis.
  • Noise/Rattle (Steering Column)
  • Loose bolts/attaching brackets.
  • Tighten.
 
  • Looseness of ball bearings or insufficient lube.
  • Lube or replace bearings.
 
  • Steering shaft insulators cracked or dry.
  • Replace or lube insulators as required.
 
  • Flex coupling compressed or extended.
  • Reposition shaft assembly to flatten flex coupling.
  • Noise/Squeak or Cracks (Steering Column)
  • Dry bushings.
  • Lube shaft seal and shift tube seal.
 
  • Loose or mispositioned shrouds.
  • Tighten or reposition shrouds as required.
 
  • Steering wheel rubbing against shrouds.
  • Replace shroud(s) or wheel or reposition shrouds as required.
 
  • Dry shift lever grommets.
  • Lube grommets.
 
  • Insufficient lube on speed control slip ring.
  • Lube slip ring.
 
  • Upper or lower bearing sleeve out of position.
  • Reposition bearing sleeve.
  • Excessive Travel of Shift Lever Out of Park Detent with Steering Column Locked
  • Shift cane spacer clip too small or missing.
  • Replace or add spacer clip.
  • Ignition Lock Cylinder Binds in Lock and/or Accessory Position
  • Shift cane spacer clip too large.
  • Replace spacer clip.
  • Chatter Type Noise
  • Chipped corners on rotor outside diameter or distorted slipper ring.
  • Replace rotor assembly.
  • Other Causes of Noise
  • Improper assembly of components such as slippers.
  • Rebuild pump and replace components as required.
 
  • Imperfections on rotor outside diameter or rotor end surface.
  • Replace rotor assembly.
 
  • Damaged rotor splines.
  • Replace rotor assembly.
 
  • Hairline crack on cam inner surface.
  • Replace cam rotor assembly.
 
  • Interference between rotor and cam.
  • Replace rotor assembly.
 
  • Excessively worn or scored pumping elements and rotor.
  • Replace rotor assembly and pressure plates.