Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Power steering part 2

[tblb0900]

Thank you for the input from my previous thread. I need to get the truck back on the road asap. I bought a reman pump, put it on and had no brakes and no steering when I was done. I put the old pump back on and the truck was the same as before, good brakes and had power assist on the steering for a minute or two. After that power steering goes out. Bad steering gear assembly and bad new pump? I'm puzzled. Any thoughts? 1997 ram 12v 2500 ctd 4x4

 

[bmoeller]

Did you put in any oil in the pump before you installed it? If it was dry and air in the system, it might have trouble bleeding it out and priming the pump. Granted, the reservoir is on top, but they aren't air pumps.

 

[tblb0900]

I just filled the resevoir after i put it on the truck, then I got the front tires off the ground and did about a dozen or so lock to locks. I thought that was supposed to bleed the air out. How would I put oil directly in the pump?

 

[bmoeller]

Just put a little bit of oil in the reservoir and turn it by hand, before installing or hooking up the lines. Let some come out of the pressure port. Same idea that is behind bench bleeding a master cylinder.

 

[tblb0900]

That makes sense. I'll do that from now on. Does it sound like the pump is the problem?