I've seen those stoppers up to 2.5" in dia down to 1/4". School chemistry sets have the same type thing. If you use a hand vacuum pump, make sure you use the brake bleeding container in between the p/s pump and your hand pump so you don't contaminate the hand pump, but yes, it will work. If the noise doesn't go away, the p/s pump may be on its way out or you are pulling air in the suction side of the pump (front seal, return leaks, ram seal, etc.)
Ok on using the vac pump. It might leaking air on suction side. I just had it rebuilt by a guy who specializes in Ford pumps. "That's not to say: It's not the pump". It's not leaking fluid. Im going to try what u suggest as soon as it gets warm enough in this part of the country to get in the garage and work on it. I just think I need to go thru the bleeding process agn B4 I can blame the equipment. I guess I kind of strayed away frm the subject of paint color on the pump. Hope not to jack this thread. My pump is black and the bracket is chrome. The chrome needs rechroming.
I bleed this way, but I do not start the car. Fill the reservoir. Jack the front tires off of the ground and go lock to lock 5 or 6 times. This will pull fluid from the reservoir, through the pump and into the cylinder. If there is air in the pump and it is given a load with the engine running, the fluid will immediately foam. Re-check the fluid level after doing this, and top off if necessary. Then start the car with the wheels still off of the ground and go lock to lock a few more times. If all sounds good, drop the car back on the ground. Re-check the fluid level, all done. This has always worked for me, but I am always open to others ideas. Let us know how it comes out.
The bracket was like that when I bought the car July 2010. The pump was painted by the guy that rebuilt it.
