Archived maybe a dying power steering pump, not sure

[ZHutton]

At idle if I turn the steering wheel I get a shudder, but things move. If I step on the brake pedal I also get a shudder.



Serpentine belt is not shredded. Actually looks ok for miles on it.



Fluid in power steering pump is not looking great, but it is not smelling burned or full of metal like some posts mentioned.



Truck is 03 I bought this past feb. and I have worked on older stuff so I figure I might be willing to get into this.



I am wondering about potential other items that could cause similar symptoms and I am also wondering how much I need to get into as far as replacing stuff.



For instance, if I had metal shavings I could see the hydroboost setup needing replaced maybe and perhaps the steering box.



I am currently thinking it has to be the power steering pump, I have zero clue on how long it will take to get one in my hands though.



But I figured I better get some advice while I spend time reading stuff from my searches and see if I am overlooking something.



Truck is not in warranty so this is either me doing it or deciding it is over my head and paying someone to do it. I have a good friend willing to help a bit so tomorrow morning we start checking it out with daylight to help.

 

[CumminsAholic]

My dad has put 4 pumps on his 03 in the last 20k. The last time they said they finally found the problem. One of the hoses was collapsed. You couldn't tell from the outside, but if you tried to blow through it you couldn't. That's what kept taking out the pumps. The fluid never stunk, but there were shavings in there but not noticible until it was flushed. The pumps aren't too expensive. . about $100. Not too hard to change either, I did the first one myself, then it happened again and I didn't have time. Changing the pulley is the worst part, if you can get one with a pulley on it, do it. Check the hoses though. They said it was a common problem? They made new hoses out of hydraulic line. So far so good, but only time will tell, he must have 10k on this one so that seems like it was the culprit.

Corey

 

[Joe Mc]

My dad has put 4 pumps on his 03 in the last 20k. Check the hoses though. They said it was a common problem? They made new hoses out of hydraulic line. So far so good, but only time will tell, he must have 10k on this one so that seems like it was the culprit.
Corey

Leave it to DC to pinch a penny or two - wonder what type hose they used to begin with? Heater hose? This should have been covered under new car warranty - yes?

 

[ZHutton]

I drove the truck a mile or so to where I was working on it today and by the time I was parking it the front shaft seal on the power steering pump was leaking a lot. Up until that point nothing was leaking at all.



Got the pump out, eventually, and new one is ordered. No one had anything in stock nearby and for the one I wanted it is going to take a few days to get in hand.



For anyone reading this who has done this, did you try to take the pump and resevoir out as one piece and did you try to come out the bottom, out the top, or out the plastic fender liner?



I took it apart after fighting it for a bit and the pump came out the fender liner and the resevoir came out the top.



I am wondering about sticking a fully assembled setup back in place.

 

[CumminsAholic]

I took the whole thing out the bottom. You have to go thru the holes in the pulley to get the bolts loose and out, but then the whole thing should drop out the bottom.



Joe, no it wasn't covered as he has more than 36k and he didn't get the extended warranty. He has never had to use it before and figured why get it. I know that they'll now reimbures you some if you never use it, but anyways he didn't get it.

Corey

 

[Joe Mc]

Corey - Got cha. Just wondering.

 

[ZHutton]

Got the new pump on and filled and overfilled so I could make a big mess, but truck steers fine now and brakes properly now.



I did eventually manage to wiggle the whole pump/resevoir assembly in from the bottom but it sure does take some imagination and stubborness to make the pump understand it is going to go in that way.



I found out it can be darn hard to find power steering fluid in my town as well, had to drive a ways to a dealer to find some as the napa and autozone do not stock anything for the 2003 dodge.



Thanks for the advice, hopefully I don't have to do this again anytime soon.