Ford Thunderbird Power Steering Pump Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Power Steering Pump Replacement Service

How much does a Power Steering Pump Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Ford Thunderbird Power Steering Pump Replacement is $227 with $87 for parts and $140 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1996 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$418.32	Shop/Dealer Price$470.18 - $613.59
1991 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$434.00	Shop/Dealer Price$483.58 - $625.28
1991 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L Turbo	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$594.59	Shop/Dealer Price$646.25 - $789.52
1990 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L Turbo	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$594.59	Shop/Dealer Price$646.25 - $789.51
1997 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$404.81	Shop/Dealer Price$456.26 - $599.37
1994 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$404.81	Shop/Dealer Price$454.26 - $595.87
1992 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$434.00	Shop/Dealer Price$483.64 - $625.40
1993 Ford ThunderbirdV6-3.8L	Service typePower Steering Pump Replacement	Estimate$404.81	Shop/Dealer Price$454.05 - $595.50

Show example Ford Thunderbird Power Steering Pump Replacement prices

What is the power steering pump and how does it work?

The power steering pump is a belt-driven or electric-driven hydraulic pump that generates the hydraulic pressure needed to provide power steering assist. It develops output pressures of 1,000 PSI or more. The pump output is directed to the steering gear, often a rack and pinion type unit, where the hydraulic pressure pushes on the steering rack, greatly reducing the effort it would otherwise take to turn the steering wheel.

Power Steering

When to consider replacing the power steering pump:

Groaning or whining noise when turning. Noise can occur if there is wear on the pump bearings or impeller vanes. A low fluid level or trapped air can also cause noises. If the pump has already been operating while dry, adding fluid may not resolve the noise and replacement of the pump might be necessary.
Power steering fluid leaks. Leaks can develop at pump seals, threaded connections, hoses, or on the steering rack and pinion unit. Pump seal leaks will generally require a replacement.
Difficult steering. Should you notice it is harder to turn the steering wheel, it might mean the power steering pump output pressure is too low, or there could be blockages in the pump or lines.
Damage to the pump pulley. Should the pump pulley become damaged or is loose on the pump shaft, you might detect vibration, drive belt damage, or hard steering. Either the pulley will have to be serviced or the pump assembly replaced.

How do mechanics replace the power steering pump?

If driven by a drive belt, the power steering pump is bolted to the engine via a bracket that allows for adjustment of the pump drive belt. Once the engine is cold, and safe to work on, the drive belt is removed.
If driven by an electric pump, the pump may be mounted in conjunction with the steering shaft or in conjunction with the steering rack. With either a drive belt or electric pump, removal of any dash, panel, or steering components is performed to access the pump.
The threaded connectors to the pump inlet and outlet are loosened and removed.
Any mounting bolts and brackets are removed so the pump can be removed.
If the old pump has failed catastrophically, or there is reason to suspect contaminants in the power steering hoses, the system is flushed.
The new pump is bolted on, the pressure and return hoses attached and the system is bled of all air. If pump is belt-driven, it is tightened to the manufacturer’s specification.
Finally, the engine is run and the car is road tested to confirm normal steering effort. If a new drive belt was installed, belt tension is measured again, and adjusted as needed, after the belt has run for a few minutes.

Is it safe to drive with a power steering pump problem?

No. If the power steering pump is operated without an adequate amount of fluid, and the pump reservoir will not hold fluid due to a large leak. The pump could seize, which would snap the serpentine belt and likely leave you stranded. If the pump turns and there is adequate fluid, but there is no power assist, it will require much greater effort to turn the steering wheel, and that presents inherent safety risks. Generally, the wisest course is to seek immediate repairs if you suspect a problem with any component in your car’s power steering system.

When replacing the power steering pump keep in mind:

Any belts driving the pump should be inspected and replaced as needed. The pump will only produce the required hydraulic pressure if it is driven by the belt at an adequate speed.
Power steering leaks from aged rubber hoses, particularly where the rubber is crimped to the steel tube, are not unusual and should be carefully inspected. The system operates under high pressure. The fluid is flammable, and if leaking fluid happens to contact a hot engine part, a fire might result. You always want to be sure the hoses and connections are sound.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert Ford mechanics

Real customer reviews from Ford owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(134)

Rating Summary

126

3

2

0

3

126

3

2

0

3

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Adam

16 years of experience

142 reviews

Adam

16 years of experience

by stuart gold

Thunderbird 2002 - Power Steering Pump - Boca Raton, FL

Adams professionalism, mechanical and diagnostic knowledge are additionally part of the toolkit he possesses, his customer service skills and honesty were an apparent part of his DNA. Will definitely use him again.

Adam

16 years of experience

142 reviews

Adam

16 years of experience

by Curtis Simpson

Thunderbird 2002 - Tire Rotation - Boca Raton, FL

Very knowledgeable

Josh

14 years of experience

69 reviews

Josh

14 years of experience

by john L Weiss

Thunderbird 2004 - Oil Change - Naples, FL

Josh was on time, stayed until he completed the job, very knowledgable. He pointed out that the also need a oil change, came back and completed that job. Very nice young man.

Kevin

20 years of experience

478 reviews

Kevin

20 years of experience

by Alan Lakin

Thunderbird 2003 - Car won't exceed a low speed or shift up - Lawrenceville, GA

Very professional and friendly service. I highly recommend him.

Excellent Rating

(134)

Rating Summary

126

3

2

0

3

126

3

2

0

3

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Is it Safe to Drive With a Stuck Caliper?

The caliper is part of the brake assembly which houses the brake pads and pistons. If you have a stuck caliper, the...

How to Troubleshoot a Car That is Hard to Start

"Car not starting" is a common complaint among car owners and is caused by faulty car batteries, spark plugs, car starter, or fuel pump.

How to Reset Your Check Engine Light

There are many warning lights that can illuminate on your dashboard. They can be indications of a pending failure in any number...

What do you call the plastic water tank fitted on the sides of the radiator.

This water filled plastic tank is sometimes referred to as an overflow tank, an expansion tank, or a reservoir. The expansion tank is a vessel that is designed to allow anti-freeze and air that are inside your coolant system to...

Got a single blue wire on a 2.3 liter 16-valve engine I think it is the camshaft position sensor where does it plug back into it's

Your camshaft sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-camshaft-position-sensor) should be placed somewhere behind the starter close to the oil filter. It will be a fixed plug that generally won't move because it is clipped on or has a bracket. You may have to take...

Why does my V8 sound like a V6 some of the time in my 1982 Mercury Grand Marquis

Hello. I would need to hear how the engine sounds in order to be able to know what it may be doing. If the engine is getting hot fast but is not actually overheating then that may simply be a...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com