Hard Steering at Idle

[Jvann]

Our 93 service truck just started steering hard at idle and lower RPM. No visible leaks and PS fluid reservoir is full. Does anyone know of a PS rebuild kit or someone who sells rebuilt pumps? TIA

 

[dpuckett]

Most parts stores sell seal kits- sounds like you may need some hard parts, though- and remans as well. I got one for my last truck with a lifetime warranty for around $65. It sound slike your pump is headed south for good.



Daniel

 

[mysteryman]

P/S Pump problems & steering gear facts

You may just have a stuck or clogged regulator/bypass valve in the pump.



Where the power hose screws into the pump there is a very large nut. . Remove that nut and you will find a spring and a regulator valve behind it... The valve has a screen in it. Be sure it is clean. The big nut has a small hole in the center where the fluid passes threw it. . Make sure it is not clogged up... There are MANY different regulator valves and "big nut fittings" out there. The difference between them is the size of the hole.

The hole size determines the flow rate of the pump... The larger the hole the easier the steering gets... . The weight of the vehicle and the steering gear design determines what size hole is needed. . If you decide to increase the hole size. Do it in small increments. . WARNING. . If you get wild and just hog it out to the max you will BLOW all the seals out of your steering gear.



The pump in our trucks has been around for 40 years. . It is a Saginaw 115 pump... That's right guys... It's a Chevy pump. LOL

Chrysler started using them back in the early 70's. . They are great pumps.

The steering gear in our trucks is a Saginaw 708... They were a great gear box but never were intended to handle the weight of our diesel engines.

Our trucks do tend to tear up the sector shafts in the 708's after prolonged use... The good news is that the 72 to 93 gas 2wd trucks used the same gear as our trucks did . . Yes the 89 to 93 diesels used the same gear in both 2wd and 4wd trucks... When hunting for a good used gear box. Get it out of a D100 or ramcharger... Those trucks were light and did not rag on the sectors shaft so much...



Last note to those using rebuilt pumps from the parts store...

It is best to reuse your original bypass valve and "Big nut " restrictor fitting

in your newly acquired rebuilt pump. . The rebuilders often do not put the correct one in for the vehicle the pump is being put on ... . This can cause problems like you have described...

Our 93 service truck just started steering hard at idle and lower RPM. No visible leaks and PS fluid reservoir is full. Does anyone know of a PS rebuild kit or someone who sells rebuilt pumps? TIA

 

[Jvann]

Thanks guys. Very good information. I'll check the regulator/bypass valve first and then replace the pump if necessary. Seems they're not very expensive and are easy to find. Thanks again.

 

[BGore]

Wow, that's great info about the pump.



Had to put a new gear in mine about 2 years ago, pump was fine. But my symptoms were that the power was "choppy" when turning the wheel.



I think I've read on here somewhere there's a recommended aftermarket manufacturer for a "better" box if you end up needing one of those, so check back if the pump doesn't turn out to be the problem.