no power steering help

[DBentley]

Lost power steering without warning at 37k.

Jacked up and removed stabilizer to see if it was seized. not seized.

Drained fluid and it looks contaminated with grey stuff like metal.

Flushed and refilled a few times and still nasty fluid that doesnt look like the atf4 going in.

Power brakes work so i assume pump is working to run booster on brakes but still no power steering.

Would a bad box contaminate the fluid like this and fail without warning??:{

 

[rbattelle]

If you've got that much metal in the fluid that's draining but the brakes still work, I'd lay blame directly on the steering gear.

Ryan

 

[DBentley]

I wasnt sure a steering box could blacken the fluid with junk.
Is there any metal to metal in the pump to cause fluid to grey up almost instantly at startup.
The pump is quiet.

 

[rbattelle]

It could come from the pump, as far as I know, but if the pump is running quiet an appears to be functioning normally, can it really be shedding that much metal?

Best thing to do would be run a pressure test, which would determine whether it's the pump. Of course, you'd have to buy a pressure tester.

Ryan

 

[MMoroney]

Would it be possible to run the suction side line of the pump into a large container of clean ATF, then remove the pressure side line going to the steering box and place that into a catch container? This would flush the system (except the steering box). If the fluid runs "clear", you would know the steering box is the problem, and at the same time the rest of the system would be flushed.



Eye protection is highly suggested for this operation.



Mike

 

[DBentley]

Where is the best place to buy a new ps box.
I have the pump and am going to do both box and pump at once.
There is to much contamination in the fluid for me to ever trust either.
I noticed napa has one for around 175$

 

[DBentley]

Update

Replaced pump and box all under 250. 00. Box at napa180. 00,pump at autozone 65. 00 both lifetime warranty

I can see this will be failing again in a few years.

Flushed 2 more times and all is well.

I think i spent more on atf4 than the other stuff

Thanks for the advice.

 

[JEngledow]

I replaced my GB 2x's in 2 years first time was leaking at the seals the second time just went out and seen the oil was grayish matalic looking just let it free drain allso had to replace my hydro booster 2 times shortly after GB's went out what a pain in the @$$ but got a 99 with 406000 miles 4x4

 

[DBentley]

O great now I can expect the brake booster to crap out.
I was feeling goodabout this repair till now. :-{}