[ccirone2]

To all those who talk of their laborious steering:

I too have this issue starting to arise. I also have intermitent lack of power steering sometimes. Is anyone confident my problem is curable with a new power steering pump???

What have people tried to fix this issue of tough steering? Has it helped/worked? What are the options/upgrades for the power steering system that is the cure-all but expensive??

Thanks for any help!

Chris

edit: The fluid level is right on the mark.

 

[johndeerebones]

If the pump is getting weak, it will work better when the engine is revved so the pump speeds up. If it is intermittant I would make sure there is no trash in the fluid or even flush it.

 

[ccirone2]

Thanks for the reply, any basic instructions on how to flush this system?

 

[JoshR]

I'm on my second reman from AZ in the last two months. The first one didn't work any better than the old pump (which was quiet, but had started to provide very little assist when parking), and the second one (in it now) groans a lot in addition to providing little assist at sub-walking speed. The hole in the current adapter on the pressure hose is 4 letter sizes bigger than the original, so the steering is wonderfully easy over 10 mph. Using Amsoil "F" ATF, per local Amsoil rep. Have done the Mity-Vac TSB bubble-evacuation trick, twice. It still groans, and still feels like I'm going to twist off the steering wheel when trying to turn at rest or slow speeds; I realize big tires don't help, but steering was fine when I put tires on 18mo ago. Anyone have any suggestions re fluid, bleeding or flushing, psi output of pump and how to check or improve, or other suggentions?

Josh

 

[ccirone2]

Do you have a link to that TSB by chance?

 

[BlueMule]

Here is what the service manual says to do:

Air Purge With External Vacuum Source Procedure

1. Tightly insert the rubber stopper of the air evacuator assembly into pump reservoir.

2. Reconnect connection used to disable ignition. Start vehicle.

3. Apply 20-25 in-Hg (68-85 kPa) maximum vacuum for minimum of three minutes at idle; maintain maximum vacuum with source.

4. Release vacuum and remove vacuum source.

5. Add fluid to FULL COLD or reservoir center mark.

6. Reinstall vacuum source and apply 20-25 in-Hg (68-85 kPa) vacuum.

7. CAUTION: Do not hold steering wheel in the far left or right position, or damage to power steering pump may result.

Cycle steering wheel from stop to stop every 30 seconds for approximately 5 minutes.

8. Shut engine off, release vacuum and remove vacuum source.

9. Add fluid if necessary; install dipstick or power steering pump oil reservoir filler cap (3A006).

10. CAUTION: Do not hold steering wheel in the far left or right position, or damage to power steering pump may result.

Start engine and cycle steering wheel from stop to stop every 30 seconds for approximately five minutes.

11. Check for oil leaks at all connections.

12. In severe cases, it may be necessary to repeat procedure.

 

[St_4rok_3]

call me stupid or not but i didnt believe it either i had the same problem 3 weeks ago changed the pupm and the front stabilizer shock greased everything but my problem was the bearing inside of the steering cloumn there is 3 bearing just an idea its a sb the change

 

[Big K]

Well,

I tried a few things over the weekend.

1) Put the truck in Netural
2) Try to turn steering left and right
3) Is it tough? (Mine is, no matter what size tires)
4) Now, REV engine when trying to Turn Steering wheel left and right.
5) Does this improve it? ( Mine turns just fine then)

I am guess it is the power steering pump, I will try to replace it in a few, I can't think what else it might be because everything else is new and greesed!

 

[OB-1]

I had similar symptoms on my truck so I replaced the pump. Everything worked fine for about a month and then the hard steering began to return so I took it to a local shop. Turned out the steering box was bad. Debris from the steering box killed the pump. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Jerry Miller]

Here's another thing to consider, since your truck is 4wd. I had a very hard to steer situation that came and went and eventually led to the truck "wobbling" in the lane. I put a new steering gear box on and it still did it. The culprit was actually the passenger side universal joint in the front axle! It had seized, so steering was effected since it had to force that joint to bend. Sometimes it would rotate over 180 degrees rather than flex which would cause the steering knuckle to move hence the "wobble." When I pulled the right axle shaft out, I could not rotate that joint at all! I put a new one in and the truck steers like my wife's Honda Accord....maybe better.
Jerry