Hello everyone, it’s been a while since I last surfed this great forum or posted anything. My e300 has been running and driving flawlessly this past year since performing all the repairs and preventive maintenance on it. Which could not have been done without the help of the kind and sharing folks here.
I need to call on your help once again if you don’t mind, my power steering pump is whining and is slow to perform when idling. I’ve searched but can’t seem to find a rebuild kit or the right pump for it. Do you guys have any thoughts as to my options? Thanks

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1998 E300 Turbo Diesel, 221k Miles
2018 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 4X4, V6, 19k Miles
2007 Honda CRV, 115k Miles
2011 Kawasaki Trans Mule, 212 hrs, (grandkid hauler)

I'd be hard pressed to want to bother with trying to rebuild a pump myself when a reman'd pump from Bosch is only $250-300ish.

What fluid spec do you have in there now and is it full/not foamy? Worn pumps just can't generate fluid pressure due to the extra clearance in the drive gears and some of these super lightweight synthetics that are used and *supercede* old specs. If your pump reservoir is full and still groaning, try some heavier fluid. Type F fluid is nice and heavy + cheap. In fact... pretty much every old Ford WILL start to howl unless used with the heavyweight stuff. Something to try on the cheap before throwing a pump at it...

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{2010 Mazda 3 266,000mi} - daily since new, Airlift suspension + some chunky sway-bars: fastest pass 17.7@77MPH
{1987 300SDL 256,000mi} - stock turbo @ 22lbs straight piped + a whole bunch of pre-turbo water/meth injection, 722.3 with increased line pressure, special sauce, and shift kit: fastest pass 16.5@82
{1992 964 Carrera 4 Frankenstein ??,???mi} - 993 forward dated, Speedster conversion, GT45 + E85: fastest pass 12.5@113

I’m not sure what type fluid is in it. It has been full since purchasing it and I never noticed any cavitation when checking it. I agree that a replacement is probably the best way to go. However, I will try the type F fluid you suggested first to see how it does.
What brand fluid is required if and when I do replace the pump?
Thanks

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1998 E300 Turbo Diesel, 221k Miles
2018 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 4X4, V6, 19k Miles
2007 Honda CRV, 115k Miles
2011 Kawasaki Trans Mule, 212 hrs, (grandkid hauler)

Your car is factory filled with ATF in the power steering system, The ATF used from the factory is not red but undyed amber, which is easily available too from NAPA under the febi brand.

I personally fill power steering systems with mercon V or Type F if the systems call for ATF. Type F has some formulation that can quieten pretty useless dead pumps too. AC delco PSF is also a very good option (sold at pepboys).

The usual issue on these cars is that the tank on the pump itself goes bad, it has an internal filter which also acts as a diffuser to calm down the liquid before the pump sucks it in. If this filter is broken you will see the fluid swirling/circling inside the power steering tank.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

IIRC the reservoir has a built in screen. Replacement will provide new screen. Also, I have heard of hoses failING internally.

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Jim

As some suggested, I pulled as much power steering fluid out of the pump and poured the ATF in and, so far the grumbling noise is gone. I plan to repeat the process a few more times in the very near future. Once again thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

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1998 E300 Turbo Diesel, 221k Miles
2018 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 4X4, V6, 19k Miles
2007 Honda CRV, 115k Miles
2011 Kawasaki Trans Mule, 212 hrs, (grandkid hauler)