skool me on hand vacuum pumps

[mrjaw14]

First some background: My parents have a '05 ford focus they were given by my grandparents. The power steering pump was just replaced by a small time mechanic with an Autozone special. Shortly there after it starts making a horrendous noise and PS fluid is everywhere. Mom takes it to a local Napa and they think the low pressure hose is leaking, so they put a clamp on it. Does the same terrible noise two days later.

dad brings me into the fold, I listen to it and believe there's air in the system. take the cap off and the fluid is all foamy. I believe the fluid is aerated and foams up through the lid, which isn't a pressure seal. the amount of fluid on top of the pump led me to this. There's no fluid shooting from anywhere during operation, so it has to come from the cap. I bleed the PS system and things are much better. noise went away, burped a lot of air, seems happier all the way around.

Now to my question: I read that many Fords have to be vacuum bled with something like a MityVac hand vacuum pump.

I'd like to hear what you guys have to say about which one to get, stories about using them, etc. I'm leaning toward this one because it's metal:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SQYUA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

any issues with the plastic version? Is there one better than the metal version above?

 

[Fedwrench]

The mityvac silverline is probably the best one out there and it's rebadged by many. However, the mityvac plastic versions work ok for ocassional use. The silverline doesn't come with the adapter you need to bleed a PS pump but, you can make one or pick one up.
It's a very simple procedure and works well on most cars. Place the adapter wher the cap goes, pump it up to 20 inches and let it sit for like 10-15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

The key to a vacuum pump having a long life is to always use that little jar between the pump and any liquids to prevent said liquids from entering the pump. lube in once in awhile with a couple of drops of 3 in one oil.

If the fluid continues to aerate, you may have a crappy pump or rack seals leaking.

 

[mrjaw14]

yeah I know about the adapter for the PS pump. It's half the price of the vacuum pump kit! I was thinking about getting a cheap rubber cork from lowes, drilling a hole all the way through it, and then getting a barbed fitting for it. I figure I can get all that for $7-8 instead of $25.

 

[yogitech]

There a pain to bleed air out, especially the design with reservour on top of the pump and o- rings on bottom....

 

[mrjaw14]

Any pointers?