Possible low power steering assist fix

[Texas Diesel]

I have had low power steering assist for some time. Tried a variety of fluids, synthetic, ATF4 etc. None helped. I could turn the wheels on gravel, slick cement but on pavement the best I could get was 3/4 turn on the steering wheel. Moving down the road steering was normal, just couldnt turn them if sitting still on pavement.



Today we installed a new PS pump and ATF4. Problem gone wooohooo!!



We took the old PS pump and removed the pressure regulator just for kicks. It was nasty and full of metalic crud, worst of all was that the fine metal screen (filter) was clogged. This may be why I had low steering boost.



This might be worth looking into if you are having low assist type of problems. Warning: removing this and fooling around with it may be considered tampering if you are under warranty.



The regulator valve is at the botttom of the PS pump.



I'll attach some pictures including a closeup of the screen.

 

[Texas Diesel]

The screen.

 

[Texas Diesel]

PS pump

 

[Texas Diesel]

Guts & Stuff.



If you remove this you will have to stick a magnet in the hole to get the spring and body out.



The screen is inside the top most fitting shown in the photo.

 

[_Hyde]

If I feel ambitious I may check mine this weekend as I have the same steering performance you described. Was removal of the pump necessary to access this or does it appear to accessible in frame? I'm too lazy to get off my tail right now.



Darren

 

[Texas Diesel]

We had it off but I'm sure you could check this on the truck. Be sure to put a towel down because small parts may fall out, also be sure to note the order the parts come out.

 

[mpjmpj]

I had the same problem. It is less than it was before I changed over to an AGR steering box.



How many miles on your truck, Tex? (I'm hittin' 99,000).

 

[illflem]

Great info Tejas, I never would have thought there was a screen in there.

 

[roxieandduke]

i've had bad luck on the power steering-power brake pump. im on my 3rd one, all under warranty. if you find anything out, let us all know. thanks

 

[Mundgyver]

Excellent information. I wonder if anybody makes a magnetic filter for this.

 

[_Hyde]

I heard the Magnefine recommended for the PS system. Thought about getting one for mine but have gotten a round to it yet.



Darren

 

[Texas Diesel]

What is a Magnefine?



Nevermind



http://www.magnefine.com/

 

[bighammer]

Mine seems to be slower to wake up in cold weather (no power steering untill warm or rev'ed up) Maybe that should be on my to-do list.



Thanks

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

Anybody else try this yet?



Dan

 

[Mac]

Bighammer

I had the same problem with my Y2K in cold weahter. I changed the PS fluid out with Valvoline synthetic blend PS fluid and that cured it.

 

[lmills]

Originally posted by mpjmpj

I had the same problem. It is less than it was before I changed over to an AGR steering box.



How many miles on your truck, Tex? (I'm hittin' 99,000).

How do you like your AGR box? I have been thinking about getting one.

 

[mpjmpj]

The first one went bad on me at about 30k. After I spoke with them at length about the problem, AGR admitted to having a problem with the Dodges. Their 2nd one was fitted with a brass bearing and a zerk fitting for greasing. It has been about 20k and I have to change the box once again.

 

[PPillard]

Well, I just tried the filter-cleaning tip. My ps pump was puking foaming fluid out of the resivour mouth, and I pulled the filter to check it before swapping out the whole pump.



The filter was dirty and clogged, just as Tejas descibed. I was able to clean it well, but once re-assembled, my steering was still in the tubes.



My next step is to swap the pump. The question is, would I need to replace the pump had I cleaned out the filter 20k miles ago?

 

[jrobinson2]

The puking foaming fliud is usually caused by the nitrogen accumulator (the round blue thing on the brake booster) failing and filling the fluid with bubbles. To check, stop the engine and pump the brakes, you should have about three pumps before the pedal goes hard, if its hard the first pump the accumulator is bad.

Jared

 

[Chipstien]

I tried changing pumps to get rid of the dead steer to no avail. Finally someone on the TDR mentioned putting a washer underneath the spring in the check valve to bump up the pressure so I did this and guess what... ... WORKS GREAT. Thankfully I was able to get my money back on the PS Pump since that wasn't the problem after all.