I didn't really "flush". I had installed a new ramn'd gear box at the same time. so just filled it all with fresh fluid.
And yes, the first remanned was cardone! the gear box was lares.
I think there is a slight alignment issue. I'm going to get that sorted first before i go pulling everything entirely. I'm not sure what to think. I might have to order a new pump like you said. any reason a new remanned gear box would be hard to pull? or would it just have slop if it were crummy?
Flush the fluid, I run 4 to 6 quarts thru. Rubber hoses can hold on to dirt, metal bits! The plastic reservoirs are horrible to clean, many nooks and crannies that you can access. I use solvent, carb and Berrymanns carb and choke cleaner with a spray on the can, fill her up and slosh about, repeat till clear. Use brushes, bottle brushes to get as much area clean as possible. The reservoir should have a magnet permanently attached inside at the lowest point. you can feel it with a piece if steel from the outside. Anyway after clean with carb cleaner, use a water based cleaner, like Foamy Engine Brite, this works to remove mud and such that the solvents like carb cleaners don't do so well with, rinse many times till clear with hot water, followed by a final round of carb cleaner to remove water. I had to repeat this many times on my reservoir to get it clean, whole can of carb cleaner. Lots of small bottle brushes, paint brushes, small acid brush on and extended length handle, rags used to get it clean.
Also found two of two rebuilt pumps with the attached reservoirs supplied have dirt in them, not big chunks, but black goo, fine black particles, ie rubber from seals, hoses?
And if I got the small bottle brush down on the magnet, which is under a ledge so you cant see it, the brush came up with metal fine whiskers, I suppose that shows the magnets work, it be best to try to mechanically the magnet with a bottle brush bent down around the plastic ledge, as if there is a large build up, the effectiveness will be diminished.
On my Jeep XJ I installed a Magnafine inline filter, and a cooler
https://magnefinefilters.com
Eventually hoses do shed, break up internally.
Anyway scrub the reservoir if used, even if it is a rebuilt one purchased, they probably only do a rinse, not a scrub at rebuild, and the residues need to be scubbed from all interior surfaces, and the magnet brushed. Consider installing a quality filter, Id avoid the tiny ones, or any with plastic housing, get an all metal housing, a failure could leave you stranded.
It's not like you can remove the belt if the pump grinds up, seizes as you can with a multi V Belt system, where water pump and fan are independently driven from AC, and steering, so that failure of AC pump or steering pump is not going to strand you. Serpentine belts are modern and efficient, but there is a huge draw back by having mission critical items like water pump and fan dependent on the condition of the AC pump or power steering pump pullies, bearings, or mounts..
Good Luck!