Ranger makes squeeking noise when turning..

[Deviant Grasshopper]

My ranger (1998) has always made a bit of noise from the power steering pump, but nothing too bad. It 'sounds' like they do when they're a little bit low on fluid (kind of quiet whirring noise when turning the wheel left or right). It never got any worse after 30-40k miles so I just ignored it.

However, about a week ago I noticed that when turning left and right (worse when turning right) it makes a noise that sounds like I'm turning inside of a parking deck (more of a squeeking)


Power steering pump or do you think it's the rack?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Check the belt first. It may just be that the serpentine belt is starting to slip a little. If you've never replaced it, then it's probably due.

A bad pump would have more of a groaning noise than a squeaking one.

ZV

 

[MrPickins]

My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Check the belt first. It may just be that the serpentine belt is starting to slip a little. If you've never replaced it, then it's probably due.

A bad pump would have more of a groaning noise than a squeaking one.

ZV

This

 

[Deviant Grasshopper]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

I'll check the belts but it may be my ball joints as well. I noticed last year that the rubber boots were broken on both sides...

 

[funboy6942]

Mouse in the Rangers pocket?

OH I forgot to mention to look into upper strut bearings for your squeak, Fords are good for having these go bad.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: MrPickins
My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

I'll check the belts but it may be my ball joints as well. I noticed last year that the rubber boots were broken on both sides...

Once the boots break, it's only a matter of time. Crappy "sealed" units...

The ones I replaced them with had grease gun fittings.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: MrPickins
My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

I'll check the belts but it may be my ball joints as well. I noticed last year that the rubber boots were broken on both sides...

Once the boots break, it's only a matter of time. Crappy "sealed" units...

The ones I replaced them with had grease gun fittings.

I did the balljoints on my town car recently (the uppers were sealed) and I used the upper-range parts from autozone (Duralast).

Would not recommend, the uppers are squeaking again after only 6 or so months.

I will replaces soon with Moog parts, apparently I should have used them in the first place.

Stupid me for buying the cheaper parts ... I'd have thought that not buying Valucraft would have been good enough.

 

[MrPickins]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: MrPickins
My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

I'll check the belts but it may be my ball joints as well. I noticed last year that the rubber boots were broken on both sides...

Once the boots break, it's only a matter of time. Crappy "sealed" units...

The ones I replaced them with had grease gun fittings.

I did the balljoints on my town car recently (the uppers were sealed) and I used the upper-range parts from autozone (Duralast).

Would not recommend, the uppers are squeaking again after only 6 or so months.

I will replaces soon with Moog parts, apparently I should have used them in the first place.

Stupid me for buying the cheaper parts ... I'd have thought that not buying Valucraft would have been good enough.

I'm pretty sure I went with Moog joints on advice of a ranger forum. No complaints so far.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: Deviant Grasshopper

Originally posted by: MrPickins
My 99 ranger has the same pump whine, nothing to be done about it.

I'm not sure if this is the squeaking you describe, but my ball joints had to be replaced last year after they came unsealed and dried out. Caused a terrible squeak when turning.
It took me the better part of a weekend to replace, but this was using hand tools to press the joints in/out without removing the control arm.

I'll check the belts but it may be my ball joints as well. I noticed last year that the rubber boots were broken on both sides...

Once the boots break, it's only a matter of time. Crappy "sealed" units...

The ones I replaced them with had grease gun fittings.

I did the balljoints on my town car recently (the uppers were sealed) and I used the upper-range parts from autozone (Duralast).

Would not recommend, the uppers are squeaking again after only 6 or so months.

I will replaces soon with Moog parts, apparently I should have used them in the first place.

Stupid me for buying the cheaper parts ... I'd have thought that not buying Valucraft would have been good enough.

I'm pretty sure I went with Moog joints on advice of a ranger forum. No complaints so far.

rangerpowersports.com? i've been a member there for many years, great place for ranger advice.

 

[Bignate603]

Check the belt and the fluid. If that's ok and something is really going wrong than you'll be replacing the pump sooner or later. A ranger is light enough that it won't be impossible to steer with no power steering so I would just wait on fixing the pump. If it fails you can replace it, if it doesn't than you don't need to pay for it.

I would have somebody crank the wheel back and forth while you're looking around though to make sure that the sound is coming from the power steering pump.