Bad Brakes and a Blown Power Steering Pump?

[Brett Maverick]

My '03 HO 3500 had GREAT brakes till I had my hitch and brake controller installed. After the installation, they faded easily and didn't seem to have much power assist. 6 months after the hitch work, the power steering pump just BLEW it's front seal (The hydraulic fluid blowing all over certainly didn't help the front brakes any... ) and needed an emergency trip to the dealer.



It's down there now, and the mechanic thinks there might be a vacuum problem that caused the pump to blow out, and it's causing the brake issue.

Any thoughts?



Brett

 

[Boonieman]

Hmmmm???? This mechanic that is suspecting vacuum problems blowing out your steering pump seals isn't the same one that hooked up your hitch and brake controller is he?

 

[Brett Maverick]

Aftermarket VS. Factory

The hitch and controller were done at the local RV shop, the trouble shooting was done by the Dodge dealer.

Brett

 

[Boonieman]

I'm just wondering if maybe something got accidentally shorted that would have affected the ABS system when they were hooking up the controller, or maybe they got into some wiring while doing the hitch. I installed my own controller using the existing factory plug and didn't have any problems. I remember a few years ago a friend of mine installed a 4-pin trailer connector on his truck and he simply spliced into the tailight wiring. This promptly screwed up his ECM and he had to get a new computer. I could easily have done the same thing at that time because I didn't know any better either. Anyway, I do know that messing with the wrong wiring in the wrong way can do really bad things on these computer-generation vehicles we drive nowadays. Anyway, just a thought.

 

[jimnance]

My hydraulic/P. S. pump failed at 4,000 miles.



Not sure about a vacuum system. Mine does not have one and all systems are hydraulic. :--)

 

[DIESELMAN]

Make sure you only put ATF+4 in the power steering pump, anything else will ruin the pump and seals. When it shows low the $20 oil change places will put the wrong fluid in without fail.



There is no vaccuum, the brakes are Hydroboost which uses the Power Steering pump and a gas cylinder to accumulate a boost.



Flakey feeling brakes and jerky steering are usually air in the lines, start the truck and turn slowly lock to lock a couple of times while pumping the brakes and that is all the bleeding care it needs.



The ABS does not modulate anything, it only spools three pairs of solonoids to stop/bleed the brakes, one at each front wheel and one for the rear axle. It has nothing to do with the PS/Booster assembly.



If the booster has any leakage or the accumulator wiggles the booster needs to be replaced. Look for pinched hydraulic lines or a mechanics boot print under the hood on the little blue cannister on the side of the brake booster.



If he talks about vaccuum, get another mechanic, he's an idiot. The Hitch has nothing to do with the problem, but maybe something that was done at that time did.