Archived Power steering gone!

[pgellerstedt]

Help!

(Truck is a 1994, 2500, 4WD, 142K)

I was cutting firewood today and on the way home I stopped to get some dinner for about 20-30 minutes. When I got back in the truck to leave I instantly noticed that the steering effort was really high. I drove a short distance down the road and stopped to check and of course there was a large amount of PSF all over the front axle, steering components, etc and it was still coming out fast. It appeard to be leaking from the steering gear box and seemed like it was leaking just above the pitman arm nut. Is there a seal in there that blows or is it something else that failed? I assume from searching the archives that the usual action is to either rebuild or replace the box and not just replace a seal? Is this true? Also, I limped the truck home for about 10-12 miles with no power steering, hoping that this would not damage the pump. Has anyone had all their PS fluid dump out so rapidly?? The steering was prefect before stopping, never had any problems. Any help/advice is really appreciated!!!

Thanks,

Paul

 

[emjay]

If it was bone dry, and then suddenly dumped the fluid, I suppose it could be a just a blown seal. Check the output shaft (Pitman arm shaft) for side-to-side slop. This can be done with the aid of a helper rocking the steering wheel back and forth while you observe the pitman shaft movement. If there is any discernable side-to-side play, you may want to check the pitman shaft bearing (or bushing, if so equipped). If the bearing/bushing is OK, you should check the worm thrust preload and pitman shaft over-center preload. Those procedures should be covered in the service manual. Then again, it may be simpler to just replace the box.

 

[RBallard]

This happened to me on 2 occasions however I lost my brakes and steering. I bought valvoline synthetic power steering fluid and topped the reservoir off each time it occurred. It has never occurred since the 2nd time, I am assuming the steering fluid is 80% synthetic now. I bought royal purple synthetic to replace all of the fluid but since everything is working ok now I haven't touched it. I have scratched my head trying to figure out what exactly occurs when this happens because I don't see what could be slipping and how pressure builds sending the fluid back out of the reservoir. I can tell you the last time it occurred, brakes and steering came back when the motor reached 1500 rpms. From that point forward it was fine.



Bob