Ford vs Saginaw steering pump

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 2:15 pm

I'm having a hard time finding information on what the big hype is on the Saginaw steering pump. Vs buying a ford pump and not having to customize my lines. Any past experience or information would by great! I'll take poll to make my finally decision.

Thank you

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:00 pm

The Ford pump, (or "pencil neck" as they're nicknamed) are know to be poor from the shelf. You'll hear more of our trucks power steering squealing with the Ford pump than you'll ever hear Saginaw pumps. I've never personally seen documentation to prove it, but I'd be willing to bet the Saginaw has a lot better pressure, (or volume). It's also a lot less prone to failure.

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:18 pm

basketcase0302 wrote:The Ford pump, (or "pencil neck" as they're nicknamed) are know to be poor from the shelf. You'll hear more of our trucks power steering squealing with the Ford pump than you'll ever hear Saginaw pumps. I've never personally seen documentation to prove it, but I'd be willing to bet the Saginaw has a lot better pressure, (or volume). It's also a lot less prone to failure.

Cool thanks for the info! That helps alot

michael69 · Post by **michael69** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:58 pm

Yea, you know the Saginaw had to be the better pump since all of the Big 3 car manufacturers used them. Also I have never used a cooler and have never had a problem.

HIO Silver · Post by **HIO Silver** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:55 pm

I'm running a Ford pump on a 390FE on a 79 steering box and it is a bit underdriven. Meaning, the revs need to come up a touch for full pressure/power steering. It has been working okay since it's a four-speed 4x4. I'm planning on getting aftermarket "Saginaw to FE" brackets in the near future to get rid of the laziness in the steering system.

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 2:08 am

GM saginaw steering division has always built the finest pumps. Not sure why they aimed so high, but the Saginaw quality standards are miles ahead of any other automotive steering stuff. That's why they're so good. Ford built pumps suck. The majority of Ford pumps have been Saginaw built since 1997.

There are some good reads online about Saginaw destructive testing of the P style pumps (the canned ham ones most people are thinking about here) where they spin them to unbelievable speeds under crazy pressures and the things just keep going for days, weeks.

I've seen them run without fluid for long periods, months, maybe a year. Dump some of whatever in there and Voila! the power steering works again.

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:47 pm

Well glad I purchased the Saginaw pump then. I had to buy a reman

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:31 pm

I need some help, so I finished the conversion and my steering is so hard to turn. I did jack the truck up on the first start and turn the wheel back and forth. But when I put it back on the ground it's so hard I can't even turn the wheel. I was kind of thinking I'm not getting enough pressure. Any ideas would be great since I need my truck to go to work on Tuesday. Oh I did notice that my pulley shaft moves in and out so Im not sure if its suppose to do that. Thank you!

Parts
Saginaw pump from a 73 gmc 2500 reman from part store
Ford gear box reman from part store
Cooler
6" pulley

67mann · Post by **67mann** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:53 am

no Xpert here,but I'm sure I heard it took alot of turning the wheels to purge the PS system of air.....not just once or twice. Someone care to chime in on this or explain better.

Might be something to try

michael69 · Post by **michael69** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:14 am

Yes it needs to be turned from full lock to lock back and forth several times to purge all air out of lines and out of pump. See if that helps.

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:52 pm

So I found a article on how to bleed the system. But now when I turn the truck on the steering wheel go's crazy back and forth by it self. I'm at loss. I took the pump back and exchanged it because it did the same thing.

averagef250 · Post by **averagef250** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:41 am

Check for a restricted return.

It's a pump, a pressure regulator, reservoir, torsion valve and piston. Really simple system if you break it down into pieces.

BRUTUS_T_HOG · Post by **BRUTUS_T_HOG** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:46 pm

Must be a reason the Big 3 used the saginaw for decades.........

jp2005 · Post by **jp2005** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:49 am

You guys want good laugh I figured out the problem. I accidently switch my lines, I had the pressure connected to the return and vice versa off the gear box.

Do you know if this will cause any damage?

abyars111 · Post by **abyars111** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:54 am

jp2005, how is the Saginaw pump doing? How does the truck drive now? How does it feel at highway speeds? I've heard that the Saginaw box feels better at highway speeds. What bracket did you use to mount the pump?

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