Power Steering Pump

Complete removal and replacement of the power steering pump on a 1972 Ford F-100 with 302ci V8, including pulley transfer, pressure and return line connections, and system bleeding.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Power steering pump × 1 — Use OEM specification or verified aftermarket equivalent for 1972 F-100 302 V8
• High pressure hose O-rings × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Pressure line O-rings × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Return hose clamp × 1 — Worm gear clamp or spring clamp per OEM specification

Fluids

• Type F ATF — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake.
2. Allow engine to cool completely if recently operated.
3. Place drain pan under power steering pump area.
4. Remove power steering reservoir cap to relieve any system pressure.
5. Use turkey baster or fluid transfer pump to remove as much fluid as possible from reservoir to minimize spillage.

Procedure

1. 1

   Loosen drive belt and pulley nut
   Loosen the power steering pump drive belt by loosening the pump mounting bolts and pivot bolt, then pushing pump toward engine block to create slack. Leave nut threaded on a few turns to protect pulley during removal.
2. 2

   Disconnect high pressure line
   Using a line wrench, disconnect the high pressure hose fitting at the pump discharge port. Position drain pan to catch fluid. Cap or plug the line end immediately to prevent contamination. Discard the old O-ring from the fitting.
3. 3

   Disconnect return line
   Loosen the return hose clamp at the pump inlet and slide it back on the hose. Carefully twist and pull the return hose off the pump inlet port. Allow fluid to drain into pan. Inspect hose for cracks or deterioration; replace if questionable.
4. 4

   Remove drive belt
   With tension fully released, slide the drive belt off the power steering pump pulley and remove from vehicle. Inspect belt for cracks, glazing, or fraying; replace if worn.
5. 5

   Remove pulley
   Install power steering pulley puller onto pulley and thread center bolt into pump shaft. Tighten puller evenly to draw pulley off pump shaft. Do not hammer or pry on pulley as this can damage pump bearings. Set pulley aside for transfer to new pump.
6. 6

   Remove pump mounting bolts
   Remove the 2 power steering pump mounting bolts securing the pump to the front bracket, and remove the pivot bolt at the lower mount. Note the position and orientation of any spacers or washers for correct reassembly. Remove the pump from the vehicle. Verified detail (References Saginaw pump which is incorrect for this Ford platform; the Ford C-II/Thompson pump mounting configuration should be verified against Ford documentation.): Exact count and sizes of power steering pump mounting bolts on 1972 F-100 302 V8 with Ford (Thompson/Eaton) pump - typically 2 upper mounting bolts plus 1 pivot bolt, but some brackets may have 3 upper bolts
7. 7

   Prepare new pump
   Verify new pump matches old unit in mounting configuration and port locations. Clean pump shaft with clean rag. Check that pump rotates smoothly by hand (there will be some resistance due to internal vanes). Install new O-ring onto high pressure hose fitting. Install new O-ring onto pressure line fitting if equipped separately.
8. 8

   Install pulley on new pump
   Position pulley onto new pump shaft, ensuring keyway (if equipped) is aligned. Use power steering pulley installer tool to press pulley onto shaft until flush with shaft end or to OEM specification. Do not use impact tools or hammer directly on pulley. Verify pulley sits squarely and does not wobble when rotated by hand. Verified detail (References Saginaw pump which is incorrect for this Ford platform. Pulley installation depth should be verified against the correct Ford pump specification.): Exact pulley installation depth specification for 1972 F-100 302 V8 Ford (Thompson/Eaton) power steering pump - whether pulley should be flush with shaft end or specific dimension from pump face
9. 9

   Install new pump
   Position new pump onto mounting bracket, aligning lower pivot hole and upper mounting holes. Install pivot bolt finger-tight, then install the 2 upper mounting bolts finger-tight. Do not fully tighten yet to allow for belt tensioning.
10. 10

    Install and tension drive belt
    Route drive belt around power steering pump pulley and other pulleys per original routing. Use pry bar or belt tensioner to lever pump away from engine block until belt has approximately 1/2 inch deflection at longest span between pulleys with moderate thumb pressure. Hold pump in position and tighten all mounting bolts.
    Torque spec

    Power Steering Pump Bolts25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Tighten pulley nut
    Use pin spanner to hold pulley stationary and torque pulley nut to specification. Verify pulley does not wobble or have excessive play after tightening.
12. 12

    Connect pressure lines
    Install high pressure hose to pump discharge port with new O-ring in place. Thread fitting by hand until seated, then tighten with line wrench to specification. Connect pressure line fitting (if separate from hose) with new O-ring and torque to specification. Do not over-tighten as fittings seal with O-rings.
    Torque spec

    High Pressure Hose Fitting25 Nm (18 lb-ft)

    Pressure Line Fitting30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Connect return line
    Push return hose firmly onto pump inlet port until fully seated. Position new hose clamp over hose and inlet port, then tighten clamp to specification. Ensure hose is not kinked or twisted.
    Torque spec

    Return Hose Clamp3 Nm (2 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Fill and bleed system
    Fill power steering reservoir with Type F ATF to cold fill mark (verify total system capacity against Ford documentation for 1972 F-100 302 V8). With engine off, turn steering wheel lock-to-lock 10-15 times to purge air from system. Check fluid level and top off as needed. Start engine and let idle. Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock 5 times slowly, pausing at each extreme. Check for leaks at all connections. Top off reservoir to hot fill mark. Recheck fluid level after vehicle reaches operating temperature.

Reassembly

1. Verify all mounting bolts are torqued to specification and belt tension is correct.
2. Wipe down all surfaces to remove spilled power steering fluid.
3. Double-check all pressure line connections for leaks during initial operation.

Verification

• With engine running, verify no leaks at pump body, hose connections, or fittings.
• Turn steering wheel lock-to-lock and verify smooth operation with no binding, noise, or cavitation sounds from pump.
• Verify power steering fluid level is at hot fill mark after test drive.
• Check belt tension after initial operation and readjust if necessary (belt may seat after initial run).
• Verify no whining noise from pump under load (noise indicates air in system or low fluid).

More procedures for this vehicle