2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Power Steering

[RClark]

the other day i decided to do a partial fluid change. Used a baster and sucked out what I could and then refilled. Started the engine and the PS would not work.

Jacked the front end up, started, and tried again-no load on the steering system.





After several seconds of heavy effort the wheels turned, stiff then easy after about 1 revolution of the wheel.

Any reason for the lockup and the need to cycle thru several times to get the system to work again?

 

[12Vmudder]

I'm not sure but from what I've been reading, it sounds like you might have a screen that is partially clogged up. . Here is a link to a thread that describes it in more detail

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...7-possible-low-power-steering-assist-fix.html

12Vmudder

 

[TBartlett1]

That's normal, I change mine the same way and each time I need to bring the engine speed up to prime the pump.

 

[Joe Mc]

When you start it up the pump sucks some of the air in the suction portion, it takes several cycles left to right and back to clear the air out. Best way is on stands this way you're saving you muscles for really useful things like 16 oz curls :-laf

There's a pictorial out there in TDR land that shows how to clean the screen and stretch the little spring back to size (with measurements) to return the psi so the wheels can be turned whit-out moving the truck, like when it was new. Also, shows where how to drill out portion of the valve and size bit - it you dare. All I did was clean the reservoir and screen stretch the spring and it worked great!