Steering Frustration Continues (but getting closer)

[MMoyle]

Hi All,

I have been dealing with not being able to steer my truck at a dead stop for years now. I have a 2002 2500 HO 6sp and I have pretty much replaced everything (multiple steering boxes, multiple pumps, new PS hoses, steering stabilizer, ball joints, axle shaft u-joints, etc). The only thing I have not yet replaced is the Hydroboost. However, I was able to determine something recently that I hope will get me closer to a resolution.

When the truck is moving, the truck steers fine - no issues. As soon as the truck stops moving, I cannot turn the wheel in either direction. However, recently I uncovered that if the truck sits overnight, I start it up and do not move, I can turn the wheel in both directions. Once I drive the truck and come to a complete stop again, I am unable to turn the wheel again. This would seem to indicate that I am getting air into the system once I start driving the truck. I can confirm that when I put all the new parts on that the system was bleed properly using the front wheels off the ground method turn lock to lock without the engine running and with the engine running, etc.

The hydroboost does not appear to be leaking at all and the brakes are working fine. Given all of this, could the hydroboost be introducing air into the system once I start driving the truck? What other ways could air be getting into the system once the truck starts moving?

As always thanks for the help.
Mike

 

[mothertrucker]

I had similar problems with my 1997 3500 & believe it or not it was caused by low engine idle.
Turns out that the idle was just low enough to effect the operation of the P.S. pump.
I cranked up the idle to 975 rpm & it fixed the problem.

 

[MMoyle]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately increasing the RPMs has no effect on my issue. Once I drive the truck and I stop, with the truck in neutral, I can run the RPMs up to 1500 or 2k and I still have the same behavior of not being able to turn the wheel.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Be sure to use synthetic PS fluid.

 

[Rich Poirier]

Have you cleaned the filter/screen at the back and bottom, that is inside of the ps pump? Sounds like a low rpm flow problem which, if the screen is dirty, will affect the performance all around, mostly at idle. There is a link right here at TDR if you wish to spend the time. Also, synthetic with an additive such as dura lube will definitely help. good luck

 

[MMoyle]

I am using synthetic power steering oil and yes the screen/filter is completely clean and free of debris. Since the truck is able to steer at a dead stop when the truck is left overnight (before I start driving), tells me that air is getting into the system once I start driving. I am going to be troubleshooting this in more detail over the next few days. I will report back my findings.

 

[Rich Poirier]

gotchya, and good luck.

 

[cerberusiam]

More likely the problem is once the fluid warms the pressure drops due to worn components. Air in the system would cause problems all the time and be pretty obvious in the reservoir.

 

[Rich Poirier]

I agree. And I figure that was the root cause of my issues. And after following the advice of our comrads, and links here at TDR. I found that heat, and the pumps just beat the sh!P out of the oil, causing cavitation, thus aeration. Once I added Lube Gard, (I mentioned dura lube in a previous post on this thread), my bad. It is Lube Gard. my solution was three fold. Sticking with the synthetic ATF, add, after flushing the system a couple times, the appropriate amount of lube gard, and clean that radiator, and clean the pump screen and its parts, making sure to get all the yuck out of the hole from which it came. The radiator was so caked with smudge from the pill bottle, it wasn't even funny only after 160000 mi.. I omitted the bottle and routed lines to the ground to eliminate that variable. Once the radiator was cleaned, a remarkable difference was noted across the spectrum. It worked. Bleeding the system by going lock to lock finalized the project. It was a grimy, tedious project but the only cost was the lube gard. Pretty darn happy with the results. PS the Lube Gard was a big part of preventing aeration, and aids in cooling, working with the synthetic ATF to formulate a more robust oil that can take the hit that our systems do. Always learning about this truck, thanks TDR.

 

[MMoyle]

Hey guys, well my issue is FINALLY fixed! After driving my truck for 3 years with bad steering, I almost forgot what is was like to drive a truck with good steering. I seriously feel like I just won the lottery My specific issue was multiple faulty PS pumps.

The first pump I tried was the Borg high-flow pump, which was junk and to be honest, I will never buy any Borg stuff again. I have had nothing but bad luck with Borg products (I have even had issues with their steering box and steering shaft) and their support sucks. The 2nd pump I put on the truck was a Reman NAPA unit. Both of these pumps caused serious cavitation/aeration once I would start driving the truck. The final PS pump I put in was a NEW PSC-SP1491 pump (found here). Once I put the new pump in, flushed the system properly using Swepco flushing oil, filled up with Swepco 715 Power Steering fluid, and performed the standard procedure to get all the air out of the system, the truck drives like a dream now. I put roughly 50 miles on the truck since putting the pump on and it steers great. I can stop at a light with my foot on the brake and turn the wheels left and right with no issue.

I would highly recommend the PSC pump if you are looking to change out your PS pump. They are new and not re-manufactured and while the price is obviously more than a rebuilt one, based on my experience it is TOTALLY worth it. Thanks again to all of you that provided feedback. TDR is such a great resource of information and I am grateful for all the help I get.

Mike

 

[Rich Poirier]

Right on! And thanks for the pump recommendation.