2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission No steering when sitting still

[Fredro]

My 2001 HO has the same problem as well. I've learned to live with it, but it definitely makes for a hard time trying to park the truck in tighter spots than I would normally like. My parking lot at work has small spaces, with narrow isles, so I pretty much gave up driving my truck to work because of it. It's just too much work sitting there for 5 minutes getting the truck "just right" so I feel safe about leaving it without having to worry about somebody hitting it.



I suppose I"ll also try and swap my fluid out once it warms up, but oh well, I'll learn to live with it.

 

[sag2]

Actually this is common with all hydroboost systems. The PS pump supplies the brakes first, then the steering. This is for safety as you can understand. The real cause is that you are trying to move the truck with the steering gear. If you put your truck in neutral and just let it sit on level ground, have someone turn the steering wheel from lock to lock. You will notice the truck will move slightly fore and aft as the wheels make the arc. This is because of the caster built into the front end. If you can imagine that with the brakes firmly applied, the steering gear is trying to "drag" the truck in order to make the wheels turn. The steering is not designed to do it, so it just quits working. When you don't have your foot on the brake, the PS pump can deliver more pressure to the steering gear, and the truck also moves. If you want to test the theory another way, if you have a trailer with brakes, use the trailer brakes to keep the truck from moving and with your foot off the brake you will still not be able to steer it (although it will be slightly better because all the pump flow is going to the gear.

So the bottom line is, it is pretty much normal. Larger tires and especially wheels will make it worse, especially is the offset of the wheel is greater than stock. You can try shimming the pressure relief valve in the pump to raise the pressure, but that only increases the stress on all the steering parts.

 

[Chipstien]

Originally posted by sag2

You can try shimming the pressure relief valve in the pump to raise the pressure, but that only increases the stress on all the steering parts.

So how is this done. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[RT66DOC]

Yesterday I heard a news blurb about a GM (Chevy?) recall which involves the PS pump on more than 800,000 vehicles. I remember reading here that our pumps come from GM. Saginaw? Anybody know more about this and the possibility of a relationship between whatever their problem is and the problem we've been having with ours?



My truck just started with this dead steer symptom but only when I first back out of the garage every AM; rest of the day it's fine. Never did it until I changed the PS fluid two weeks ago. Put in Valvoline Synthetic too. The pump must have liked the old slime I pulled out better.

 

[tpoag]

I guess my question is, if this is a normal accurance with this type of steering, brake, and pump setup, then why do some trucks have the dead steer problem and others don't? Why do some have this problem only when the truck is cold?

My truck did NOT do this for the first 2 years that I had it, so something has happened. I still have the stock wheels and tires and everything else is still stock.



Terry

 

[stormrider]

My 2001 does the same thing occasionally (like backing a trailer,leaveing a parking space etc. ) I thought maybe Dodge just built this into their trucks that former Chevy owners bought. Duramax beginning to look better all the time.

 

[johnrv4]

Check out this thread:https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41372&highlight=dry+park



I think the term used by the dealers is "Dry Park". You can do a search and find some more threads relating to it.

 

[mgoncalves]

My truck just got a new pump from the dealer last week. Totally solved my lack of assist in parking lots.



My truck is on steering gear box number two, and vaccum pump/power steering pump number three. This is at 30,000 miles. Not the greatest setup, but it could be much worse. My steering has never been real bad, and if it weren't for warranty I would not have bothered fixing it.



I would like to add the DSS and the DT trac bar in the future, just for the extra beef this frontend deserves.



Matt

 

[tpoag]

It seems there is no good answer. Some say synthetic fluid helps and others say it made the steering worse. Changing the pump helps some, but not others. The same with gear boxes.



Now what happens?



Considering my truck only has 12,000 miles on it and had been to the dealer a couple of times for this problem while under warranty, I would like to try and make them do SOMETHING! Of course, it is out of warranty now. I'm sure I am SOL.





Terry

 

[stseeber]

TSB?

Imills: Cannot locate TSB you referred to on switching to ATF+4? )rdered aftermarket rebuilt Box and DSS. Will have all installed at the same time next week. Can anyone direct me to that TSB?

 

[TSeward]

My Dead Steer is Alive !

I bought a 2001 4x4 last year and quickly noticed a problem with the powersteering while sitting still. The dealer replaced the p/s pump twice under warranty and gave up on the problem. After replacing the hydroboost and the gearbox myself to no avail, I read sag2's comment on shimming the pressure relief valve. I was getting desperate so I added a small (1/4"OD) washer under the small spring inside the valve to slightly increase the pressure and VOILA ! It's cured ! Wish I had tried it before throwing all the parts at it !

After spending approx. $1K on expensive parts, a . 05 cent flatwasher fixes it !

 

[Groover]

Rebuilt steering box

Several on this thread asked about rebuilt steering boxes.



This does not help the park steer thing however. I was on my second worn out steering box when my warranty ran out and was hesitant to buy another "NEW" steering box from Dodge.



I got a rebuit box from "Steer and Gear" 1-800-253-4327 and have no complaints.



The lower bearing on the factory boxes kept loosening up and causing loose steering. The rebuilt box now has 25,000 miles on it and is still tight. Steer and Gear bores and bushes the gear housing as the factory housing is poorly cast at the lower bearing area and allows the bearing to start moving in the housing.



This will not help with park steer but will help keep the steering tight. I occasionally get agravated in parking lots trying to turn in small areas but have learned to live with it.



OH BTW our boxes are "Delphi" AKA Saginaw but a different version than that used on Chevies.



My . 02

 

[hammersley]

Help - TSeward - more data

TSeward - can you explain the fix better - i. e. I wish ther were pictures of this fix. Also - does this cause any ther downstream effects like increased pressures someplace else???

 

[TSeward]

hammersley,and others interested,



Take the p/s pressure hose off the back of the pump. Take the large nut (approx 1") that the hose was threaded into ,out. Use a magnet to reach inside to pull the pressure relief valve out. While carefully holding the valve,use a 7/16" wrench to remove the nut in the end of the valve. Remove the tiny ball and piece the ball sits on out. Remove the small spring. Find a small washer the same diameter as the spring and drop inside the valve. Make sure it's laying flat before you put the spring and other parts back inside. Put everything back together.

I can't believe Dodge hasn't been able to come up with a fix by now for this problem !

I've been running mine for a week now with no other problems. I'm willing to take a chance at this point.

 

[Chipstien]

TSeward, how does this increase the pressure?

 

[TSeward]

Chipstien,

This is my theory on how this works. I may not be totally accurate,as I am not an engineer, but I do know that it fixed my problem. The power steering pumps are capable of creating much more pressure than is needed for normal use. By shimming the spring in the pressure relieg valve, the spring tension is increased, causing the valve to bypass at a greater pressure,causing the line pressure to increase.



Tom

 

[Chipstien]

TSeward, you da' man.

Only took twenty minutes.

I have power steering again... ... . WOO HOOOOo. Oo. Oo.

 

[rich224]

Hey guys, I just experienced this yesterday for the first time while backing up to a 30 ft. gooseneck. I thought it may have been low on steering fluid, but it wasn't - - - - what I did find was oil, all over the bottom of the engine, axle, & trans. Not black (engine), not red (trans. ), clear, like steering fluid, but I'm unable to find the source - - - it's not the P. S. hoses - - - anyone got an idea ???



01' 4x4 QC Sport 185K runs like a bat out of ****, lots of goodies