Power steering help...again

Alrighty, short story
Changed belts, fluid flush, bled the system.
Removed reservoir - cleaned out with brake cleaner, more new fluid.
Replaced power steering pump - all new fluid, bled the system.

Every time I start the truck the power steering pump whines.
Turn wheel to left lock and right lock a few times and now the whining stops for the duration of the drive. Turn it off and back on, whines again, repeats previous steps, fixed. Also bought new clamps for the return line so I know there isn't an air leak there. no leaking in the return line.

Anyone have any idea whats going on? I feel like there's gotta be air getting in from somewhere every time I start it, because after "bleeding the system" after I start it, it runs fine.

I did notice I have to get a new steering rack boot for the right wheel because there is a tear. Maybe a chance that they seal inside the steering rack is damaged?
Any help will be greatly appreciated. @Ritchie , any further ideas? Your comments were very helpful earlier when learning how to bleed the system.

And since every story is better with pictures. (I did not cut off the original metal clamps on the return line yet because I'm still just trying to figure out what's going on).

 

https://youtu.be/0BKTQwZCIwY

The pause in the whining is hitting full right and left stop

 

Don't think the boot is your problem.

Did you try adding just a little extra fluid? Sounds like it is low when cold?

I feel for you. Mine has given me the run around too...

 

I will try and add just a little more. This was after I drove it for about 45 mins, then sat for about 30 mins while I was working on it. It's just weird because it's only when starting up. And if I take the cap off, there are little air bubbles when going from left to right until the noise stops. Then its nice and clear.

 

Try running the steering back and forth without the engine running (easiest if vehicle is up on jack stands) maybe twenty times or so.

 

How long did you cycle the steering wheel with the front wheels off of the ground?
By your description, air is in the system. You will get whining at full lock in each direction so keep that in mind.

 

@Seagull233 I did that with the engine running, I thought that would be better since it would cause assist the pump.. I’ll try it with the engine off
@Ritchie what’s weird tho is that I’m not getting any whining at full lock... only in between the turns.
I’d say with the wheels off the ground and engine running for 30-40 mins. I started to go a little faster and faster near the end as the power steering fluid wasn’t rising to the top and bubbling as it did with the other pump. I will try again with the ending off.

 

Do it again but turn the wheel slowly. This will allow the fluid time to replace the air, if that makes sense. It took me about 45 minutes by myself.

 

Ok. I’ll do it slower. And with the engine off? Or on? Thanks again..

 

Motor running.

 

If it's not running, the pump isn't creating the little bubbles in the fluid, and cycling those out into the lines. Therefore, it will get rid of any big bubbles that are in the system. Worked for me, YMMV.

 

Thanks. I’ll give it another try in the morning. Got it to the point where if the truck is still warm I can start it again without any whining, but then if I let it get cold it whines. Tmrw morning will be the test

 

What RPM does the motor run at when completely warmed up?

 

Not sure... normal? Haha. My gauge cluster doesn’t have RPM. It doesn’t seem low though.
Didn’t get a chance to bleed the system again because it snowed about a foot at my house and I was too busy. Tmrw is the day

 

Mine is doing the exact same thing on my 96 Tacoma 4x4

 

Alrighty folks,
bad news. Put it up on jacks this morning after doing another flush the other day where I took the reservoir apart (found out how to on a different thread) and cleaned the crap out of the reservoir.
Left it up on the jacks for an hour from @Ritchie 's recommendation and turned the wheel slowly from left lock to right lock for an hour.
Absolutely made sure there were no bubbles. Drove around just fine. Turned the truck off and back on, boom, back to whining.
I let it sit there for a while to see if the whining went away (hoping that it was the tensioner pulley or the belt), no luck. Turned the wheel all the way to the left and it whined until I hit the stop, stays quiet at the full stop. Stayed there for a second, released the pressure on the steering wheel and the whine was gone. Story of my life.

Question - Does this basically mean that I need a new steering rack? My guess is an inline filter won't help, because air has to be getting into the system somewhere...

 

Now that you've done all of that... it sounds like air is somehow getting into the system.
Any cracked fittings or very small leaks?

 

The only place I can find anything wet is down in the steering rack near that rear in the right boot. My guess is I ruined the seal in there. It’s persistently wet around the hole and my guess is it’s just weeping. Maybe even right when I start the engine a little bit of air sneaks through that hole and finds its way into the system. Just grabbed a remanufactured rack and pinion set from a wholesale place down the road. Kinda my last chance to fix it haha. If this doesn’t work I’m just going to have to deal with it and keep an eye on my power steering fluid level

 

Is the new pump OEM or aftermarket?

Did you keep your old pump, and was it OEM?

I replaced my pump with an aftermarket one and it was noisy. Never did get better, no matter what I did. After about two years I got tired of it, bought a rebuild kit, and rebuilt my old OEM one that I still had. It’s nice and quiet.

 

Mine was a brand new one from..... rock auto I think. Either that or carparts.com. I would think it was the pump, but no matter how long I let it sit there the noise doesn’t go away until I move the steering wheel left and right. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a small hole in the seal under the boot in the steering rack..