Archived Loosing Power Steering and Brakes

[Nate]

How come pi$$ed is blocked out??



The seal I was talking about is Napa part #NPS7419. That's the seal that's between the vac pump and steering pump. The one in there feels ok, but I figure it's easy to change it now.

 

[Nate]

Wrong part # in my previous post. That's actually the seal on the input of the pump. I put the pump in using the oil seal (hadn't taken it out) since I need the truck to be running by this Sunday at the latest.



Didn't have a chance to hookup the lines. Was getting dark and snowing and I was cold so I decided to finish tomorrow. I hoping it will fix the problem *crossing fingers* :-laf

 

[Nate]

Ok I got the new pump in and it's doing the same thing as teh old one... D'oh! Too much trouble for a $100 part, so I'm going to leave the new one in.



I'm guessing it's the hydroboost. I can get a reman'd one from Napa for $240, so I might do that. I checked all the lines, etc and everything looks fine.



Any ideas on things I could do to test the hydroboost unit??

 

[Nate]

Anyone... anyone... anyone... Bueller?

 

[B KIRK]

Nate. Try putting the front axle on jack stands, and turning the wheels lock to lock with the engine not running. You may have to do this 25 - 30 times. On a new pump, it is easy to get air in the lines. Been there. Have someone look in the pump reservoir to see if it is staying full, and if any air is present.



Brad

 

[Nate]

Ah, I forget to mention that... .

I did that when I put the pump in.



It is foamy up bad. Like foam if you'd shake up a beer and open in.



I replaced steering boxes and pumps on other vehicles and I've never had it foam up like this. Some air bubbles, but not complete foam.

 

[B KIRK]

Was the engine running? If not, I'm out of ideas. If it was, that is your problem. Would have to let it sit a while for the bubbles to settle down.



Brad

 

[Nate]

I did about 20 lock to lock turns with the engine off, then I fired it up and did the same with the engine running, adding fluid when it was going down. The whole time I didn't have power steering or anything. I shut it off, did about 20 more lock to lock turns, fired it back up and steering and brakes started to come back, but that's when it foamed up. I let it sit a while till the foam was gone, 20 more lock to locks with the engine off. Fired it up and foam once again. It just keeps on doing that.



I was going to make a bypass line to bypass the hydroboost, but the fittings are metric and Napa doesn't have any metric fittings. I'm leaving this afternoon for a few weeks. I'll see if I can get some fittings from where my brother works at.

 

[GFrance]

Nate I had the same problems this summer with my 01. I'm 99. 9% sure you lost your hydroboost. Check out this thread that I posted in & do a search on hydroboost failures. http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137851&highlight=hydraboost+went+out I think you will find the answer there.

 

[SS]

Once you get it running again, make SURE you check your hydroboost. As said, it sounds like the nitrogen cannister burst and forced fluid out of the system. The service manual has the procedure, but an easy way to test it is to find a large parking lot, slowly drive the truck, shut off the engine, and apply the brakes. The nitrogen cannister is intended to give you 3 good brake assists or more. If the brake pedal is hard right away with no assist, the hyrdroboost is shot. You'll only know this if you need brakes in an emergency such as running out of fuel, but trust me you don't want to try to stop this truck without hydroboost. If you just fix the bubbles in the fluid everything will seem normal until you need it. Did I mention to make SURE you check it if you've had a P/S problem?

 

[OTRPU]

Can attest to not wanting to steer nor stop my Ram without the power assist. Stopped for a break at the Hardeman Rest Area South of Quanah, TX on US287, well. . . it broke. Would start after too much cranking, but not stay running. Injector Pump Failure. A Texas Hauler that had parked next to me offered to tow me to Quanah for repairs. Only 10 miles or less, but all I could do to steer, and stopping for red lights in town proved to be an experience I don't care to repeat. Replaced both pumps and back on the road. Not long after this the hydroboost went out, and then the steering box.



#ad




Cheers,

OTR PU

 

[Nate]

I can't test is because the darn pump is foaming up... I mean it looks like I shook up a beer and poured it in there. I'm guessing something is allowing air in the system... but why... the hydroboost? I really don't have much for power steering or brakes at this point. Not really driving the truck too much, but I don't have much of a choice.



Nate

Once you get it running again, make SURE you check your hydroboost. As said, it sounds like the nitrogen cannister burst and forced fluid out of the system. The service manual has the procedure, but an easy way to test it is to find a large parking lot, slowly drive the truck, shut off the engine, and apply the brakes. The nitrogen cannister is intended to give you 3 good brake assists or more. If the brake pedal is hard right away with no assist, the hyrdroboost is shot. You'll only know this if you need brakes in an emergency such as running out of fuel, but trust me you don't want to try to stop this truck without hydroboost. If you just fix the bubbles in the fluid everything will seem normal until you need it. Did I mention to make SURE you check it if you've had a P/S problem?

 

[Nate]

Well I'm gonna order a rebuilt Hydroboost. The truck is bascially useless to me without steering or brakes, so I have to fix this.

 

[Nate]

Can anyone look in their FSM and tell me if there is a certain procedure to bleed the hydroboost? I was told you have to hold the brake pedal to the floor and start it up. . shut if off and... do that 4 or 5 times. Just want to see if that's true.

 

[RON'S RAM]

Hi Nate, you're probably done by now but just in case you're not this is what I found in my FSM. After installing the new booster, master cylinder and pressure lines(torqued to 21 ft. lbs) Install the return hose to the booster. Fill and bleed the brake system. Fill the power steering pump with fluid. Bleed the hydraulic booster. That's it, not really any explanation. The only thing I could find about depressing the brake pedal was for the booster removal. That is where it says "With the engine off depress the brake pedal several times to discharge the accumulator. "

Good luck, sounds like you need it. Looks like you are going to be the brake specialist on here by the time you are done.

Ron

 

[Nate]

Ok. I put the new hydroboost on and it's still doing the same thing. Foaming the fluid up bad just as before. I'm going to pull the lines off and flush them through. I'm wondering if maybe one of the lines has something blocked in it.



The only other thing it could be is the steering box. . it's worn out, so I may replace it.



The old hydroboost was leaking a bit internally it looks like, so I'm going to leave the new one in. Wasn't too bad to change, took me maybe an hour.

 

[Nate]

Not sure why this got moved to Archive... not having power steering or brakes is kinda a "911" thing IMO.



I checked the lines again, and they all look fine. I started looking at the steering box though, and it's gotten very sloppy since I last checked it. I can actually move the sector shaft about 1/4" by grabbing it.



So I'm going to put a new one in, PSC, since I run one of those in the Jeep and I like it very much.



The question, is with a new box, is it worth getting the brace??

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/index.php?cPath=21_59



I don't exactly have tons of money floating around, so if I don't "need" it I won't get it.

 

[Nate]

I'm not sure why I even bother posting on this if all I'm doing is talking to myself.



I ordered the box and brace if anyone cares.

 

[tractorface]

Brace looks like a DSS (Darin's steering stabilizer from Solid steel industries). I have one and think it should be on every truck from the factory. It helps correct a design flaw that leads to the premature wear of the steering box itself. If you plan on keeping the truck you did the right thing. Let us know how you like the steering box. My truck is starting to think about a new box and some other front end parts.

See Ya

 

[Nate]

I run a PSC box on my Jeep, which is the reason I chose the same company again. Very happy with it.