steering HELP?

[pholt]

Any help appriciated. I have a 04. 5 2500 4x4 and I have noticed over the winter when it was cold my power steering was horrible at idle, it will turn a little way and you have to let the truck roll. Well it has warmed up and my steering still is horrible. You can not turn lock to lock on pavement, it just wont do it.



I have also noticed in the last week when I turn a corner and when it returns, it is jerky, not smooth, it feels like you have a flat, or your locked in 4 wheel drive. The truck has 54k, the front is is a tight as it can get.



Any pump failures? Is the pump just done?



Thanks so much.

Paul

 

[rbattelle]

Hi Paul. Assuming the fluid level is good and the tire pressure is sufficient, there are a number of things to look at next.



1. Could be the steering gear. That would require replacement.

2. Could be the pump, which can be pressure tested. I'm not sure how to pressure test it yourself... maybe someone will have a suggestion.

3. Have you been greasing the tie rod ends regularly? If not, they could be binding.

4. Could be bad ball joints causing a bind (unlikely).

5. Service manual also suggests a "loose belt" could do it, although in my opinion if the belt were loose (meaning the automatic tensioner is shot) you'd have other problems besides just the power steering.

6. The steering shaft u-joint could be shot.



I think a system pressure test would be a good investment. It would tell you which direction to move. You don't want to just "guess", because steering parts are expensive.



Ryan

 

[pholt]

Thanks for the HELP

Hi Paul. Assuming the fluid level is good and the tire pressure is sufficient, there are a number of things to look at next.



1. Could be the steering gear. That would require replacement.

If this is worn at 50k, Dodge needs to be sued. ?



2. Could be the pump, which can be pressure tested. I'm not sure how to pressure test it yourself... maybe someone will have a suggestion.

I am thinking it is that.



3. Have you been greasing the tie rod ends regularly? If not, they could be binding.

They are perfect.

4. Could be bad ball joints causing a bind (unlikely).

Yea they are fine also.

5. Service manual also suggests a "loose belt" could do it, although in my opinion if the belt were loose (meaning the automatic tensioner is shot) you'd have other problems besides just the power steering.

I agree, the belt is fine.

6. The steering shaft u-joint could be shot.

It's also fine.



Ryan

I wonder who can do a pressure test? I am almost 100% sure it is the pump, this is a STUPID small pump for such a heavy motor, back in the 70s, heavy trucks like this had Hydro assist cylinders similar to Rock rams on todays rock crawling trucks, I do not think this is enough pump. I cheked the fluid it is fine, but has some black in it.



I think a system pressure test would be a good investment. It would tell you which direction to move. You don't want to just "guess", because steering parts are expensive.

 

[pholt]

The more I think about it.

It has to be the pump, my last rock crawler, had a Toyota power steering pump, pushing the Borg warner steering box, a Rock ram on the front and a 1" Atwoods hydraulic cylinder on the rear axle, though the aux port, and i could turn 4 44" tires on concrete with no effort, if this sorry pump can not turn two 35", then it must be shot?

I guess I will replace it. My 02 Dodge had a air pump on the power steering pump, this truck does not.

Do the 04. 5's offer Hydroboost breaks? This truck with 4 wheels disc HAS GREAT BRAKES.



Paul

 

[rbattelle]

My 02 Dodge had a air pump on the power steering pump, this truck does not.
Do the 04. 5's offer Hydroboost breaks?

Actually, the 02 had a vacuum pump integrated with the power steering pump. It was used to run cruise control. It would be AWESOME if Dodge actually decided to provide an air compressor on the back of the P/S pump, but space limitations probably preclude this.

As an aside, I was at the local Cummins today and was looking over a Signature 600. I was surprised to find it's air compressor located roughly where the alternator on our trucks is located, and driven from the engine belt. The compressor looked very much like the ones Kilby sells.

Anyway, back to the topic. If you're going to replace the pump, consider these guys. They're supposed to be among the best.

On edit: I just noticed PSC doesn't list a pump for 2003-up trucks! I could've sworn they had them... .

Ryan

 

[jelag]

I was personally disappointed in this comment... ... .

"""1. Could be the steering gear. That would require replacement.
If this is worn at 50k, Dodge needs to be sued. ?"""

I own 3 of these trucks... . 04, 04. 5, 05 now with close to 450K miles on the 3, and yes I've had both warranty problems and out of pocket costs... but never as bad as the power strokes that I've sold off, or have yet to sell waiting for the 5500's.....

Just my 2 cents worth... .

 

[Alaskaskiff]

One more thought on this. Since it is a 4x4, check the front axle ujoints. I had one lock up so bad that it would not allow me to turn the steering wheel unless I was moving. I replaced both side with Precision ujoints. All better now!

 

[crobertson1]

I was told from some dealership guys, that the pumps are being replaced quite regularly-either because of leaks or lost boost.

 

[edmeyers]

power steering groans

well i was in the compnay truck (04. 5 srw 3500 4x4)



and i was trying to cross a ditch (full of water on a wetlands) bad idea, any way i buried the driver side of the truck in said ditch (so deep i could not open the door) while i waited for the county to send their grader to pull us out we tryied to get out working the wheels back and forth sinking us further than we had orginally been. any waY the grader came and pulled us out but now i have a nasty groan when ever i try to turn the wheel and it is not easy to turn the wheel, not like before. when i checked the fluid after we got back it was black. i cleaned the dipstick and rechecked the level and it was clean.



any thoughts



truck has 87K on it

 

[rbattelle]

Check the steering stabilizer. I've heard of people bending them slightly off road and it causes a heck of a bind in the steering.

Ryan

 

[betterthanstock]

Before you start unbolting stuff, flush the oil. It may be too thin, and dirty.

Jack up front axle.

While idling, unhook the return hose and dump it to a gallon jug. Keep adding fresh fluid thru fill cap, while someone turns wheels left-right lock-to-lock a few times, until fresh fluid comes out. Reconnect hose, stop engine. Fill to proper level. One of my freinds was complaining, and this fixed his problem.

You can also use GM ATF, it's cheaper. (dextron or mercon or whatever)

 

[bighammer]

I checked my fluid last week (cold engine) and when i unscrewed the cap, it was under pressure and made a loud POP and blew fluid out. What's up with that? Level was OK, but the pressure seems odd.

 

[rbattelle]

I checked my fluid last week (cold engine) and when i unscrewed the cap, it was under pressure and made a loud POP and blew fluid out. What's up with that? Level was OK, but the pressure seems odd.

Mine has done that since the day I drove it off the lot. Just past 70k miles, and no problems yet. Some people have reported losing their caps, though, when they blow off on the road somewhere. JHardwick is one who's had this happen.



Ryan

 

[BryanWhite]

Ito have had this problem. I had the pump ,steering box and power steering hoses changed. Istill have the problem at times. Ihave changed the power sterring fluid to synthetic. Does anyone else have any suggestions.

 

[rbattelle]

Usually the problem resides with the hydroboost, which is the only component you haven't replaced yet. What made you replace all those other items and not the hydrobooster?

Ryan

 

[Kry226]

Before you start unbolting stuff, flush the oil. It may be too thin, and dirty.

Jack up front axle.

While idling, unhook the return hose and dump it to a gallon jug. Keep adding fresh fluid thru fill cap, while someone turns wheels left-right lock-to-lock a few times, until fresh fluid comes out. Reconnect hose, stop engine. Fill to proper level. One of my freinds was complaining, and this fixed his problem.

You can also use GM ATF, it's cheaper. (dextron or mercon or whatever)

I really don't think you have to get that in-depth with it. I did this last week with the engine off. I just pulled both hoses loose from the cooler lines located immediately under the radiator on the drivers side and let drain. I had fluid coming out for 10 minutes albeit slowly at times. Reconnected the hoses, filled the reservoir with ATF+4, started the truck and turned wheel from lock to lock a few times while pushing the brake pedal every so often. Stopped the engine and topped off. Repeat. Might there be an ounce left in the pump? Yeah, maybe, but I'm confident I got 99% of the fluid exchanged and dipstick is clean as a whistle. Steering is better and so are the brakes.



But I agree, this should be the first step to diagnosing the above problem.

 

[rbattelle]

I really don't think you have to get that in-depth with it. I did this last week with the engine off. I just pulled both hoses loose from the cooler lines located immediately under the radiator on the drivers side and let drain. I had fluid coming out for 10 minutes albeit slowly at times. Reconnected the hoses, filled the reservoir with ATF+4, started the truck and turned wheel from lock to lock a few times while pushing the brake pedal every so often. Stopped the engine and topped off. Repeat. Might there be an ounce left in the pump? Yeah, maybe, but I'm confident I got 99% of the fluid exchanged and dipstick is clean as a whistle. Steering is better and so are the brakes.

I really like that! I might have to try it. Sounds really easy. But I think instead of draining then refilling, I'd keep the system topped off as it drained out. Sure, it'll waste some fluid, but there would be no fear of losing prime.



Ryan

 

[Kry226]

I really like that! I might have to try it. Sounds really easy. But I think instead of draining then refilling, I'd keep the system topped off as it drained out. Sure, it'll waste some fluid, but there would be no fear of losing prime.



Ryan

Roger that. I figured nothing ventured, nothing gained. I made sure to overfill the first time to ensure not running the reservoir dry. No issues during the whole process and I really believe this should be a more frequent undertaking. Good luck.

 

[BryanWhite]

It was under warrenty and Dodge didn't have any other ideas at the time.