Archived no power steering or vacuum

[BWilson]

I was just driving a long, hit a small bump coming into a parking lot and my power steering quit. Then I noticed thatthe brake pedal was VERY hard to push (no vacuum I am thinking).



PLEASE, PLEASE don't tell me it's my KDP, the jig should be at my house today. :{

 

[Bigramguy]

Shouldn't be a vacuum problem as your truck doesn't use it for the brakes.



Power steering pump supplies both the steering box and the hydroboost for the brakes.



First off,check the fluid level and condition,maybe sprung a leak.



Second would be to check out the pump,maybe it's failed. Sometimes the pressure relief will stick open,causing low pressure.

 

[BWilson]

No leaks (now). I just changed the gear assembly because the lats three seals weren't keeping the oil in. Too much runout on the shaft. Sooooo, the power steering pump has been run low a few times and has been making sounds like it's low (but it isn't). How much of a job is it to change the pump?????

 

[Bigramguy]

Try rapping on the pump a few times with a hammer,if the relief valve is stuck,it may just free it up. Maybe some debris from the box change got in there. If it helps,try changing and flushing out the fluid first.



Haven't changed one on mine,but i'm sure they aren't too hard.

 

[BWilson]

Thanks for the quick response. Looks like I'll be changing the power steering pump tomorrow. It's $70 and the first one lasted 390K so I think I'll just change the pump. It's been dangerously low quite a few times so I'm pretty sure that I did this to myself :{ I hate it when that happens!

 

[Bigramguy]

Yeah,I know. I do this stuff all day for a living and when we screw up we have to eat it,that bites.



Good luck with the pump. You may want to look into some synthetic fluid,as a lot of guys say it helps. Do a search on PS fluid,lots of good stuff.