2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering issues.

[JR]

I wonder if a partially collapsed hose could be restricting flow somewhere?? You know, like when a brake caliper hose collapses internally and you lose braking ability to that caliper...

 

[cerberusiam]

Problem is there is really no suction hoses in the system, they are either supply or return. Always under positive pressure. The reservoir is on the pump so the fluid is right there.

A hose torn internally that is blocking flow is a possibility. However, the brakes would suffer the same fate as the steering I believe.

 

[JR]

Correct, and thats what Im wondering. I had a brake hose collapse internally on me one time, about a month after replacing rotors, pads and calipers. Took the caliper back under warranty thinking it was junk, had the same results. A friend told me to try replacing the hose as he had the same issue previously. Wouldnt you know thats what it was. Apparantly it had begun to deteriate from the inside enough to restrict fluid to my caliper, causing the truck to pull the other way.

More of a question than anything, Ive never heard of it happening on a ps line. This had reminded me of my exp with the brake line

 

[tripl-e]

OK, so I just eyeballed the hose routing in my '01. The pump has one pressure output line and two return lines. The pressure output is routed to the brake booster and from there to the steering box. I guess it stands to reason that the brakes come first, they being, if only slightly, more critical than steering assist. Both the brake booster and the steering box have discrete return lines to the pump reservoir. I imagine it is possible that the brake booster is somehow interfering with the supply of hydraulic pressure passed along to the steering box or that the pressure line that runs from the brake booster to the steering box is somehow compromised. At this point I'd be curious about how much volume the steering box is returning to the pump reservoir as a crude measure of the flow available to the steering assist hydraulics. I still can't imagine that there is so much drag in the steering gear that it can't be overcome by the normal assist. I experimentally rolled my truck on the highway (no traffic, straight road, long sight lines) with the engine stopped (the brake boost accumulator stores enough energy for a couple of assisted stops without pump output) and the steering effort was very, very high but the steering 'feel' (self centering, road surface feedback, etc. ) seemed like an amplified version of normal.



EEE

 

[drlabatomy]

OK, so I just eyeballed the hose routing in my '01. The pump has one pressure output line and two return lines. The pressure output is routed to the brake booster and from there to the steering box. I guess it stands to reason that the brakes come first, they being, if only slightly, more critical than steering assist. Both the brake booster and the steering box have discrete return lines to the pump reservoir. I imagine it is possible that the brake booster is somehow interfering with the supply of hydraulic pressure passed along to the steering box or that the pressure line that runs from the brake booster to the steering box is somehow compromised. At this point I'd be curious about how much volume the steering box is returning to the pump reservoir as a crude measure of the flow available to the steering assist hydraulics. I still can't imagine that there is so much drag in the steering gear that it can't be overcome by the normal assist. I experimentally rolled my truck on the highway (no traffic, straight road, long sight lines) with the engine stopped (the brake boost accumulator stores enough energy for a couple of assisted stops without pump output) and the steering effort was very, very high but the steering 'feel' (self centering, road surface feedback, etc. ) seemed like an amplified version of normal.



EEE

Awesome Triple E i think thats a great place to start and it gives me a chance to actually fix the issue. I wonder if the hose between both the hydro boost and steering box was ever changed??? I gotta check. If not that could've been the issue from the get go. I'll let you know.

 

[klaybus]

Interesting 14 month old thread. Did it ever get resolved?

 

[drlabatomy]

I went through all the normal means and anything that was in this thread... and it was the most unlikely of things. I figured I did everything else and the tires are getting worn so I changed the tires (always had standard sized tires on the truck) Took off the Goodyear Silent armor tires and put on a set of general grabbers all terrain.. and problem was solved.
Some times the simplest things are the first things overlooked.

 

[klaybus]

Wow, tires? I guess I can see if I can find some to try. I am currently running the Michelins that came on the 02 model year trucks. There like a 10 ply all season radial. 265x75x16. I know my truck originally came with 245s & in the past I have run tires as large as 295 BFGs. IDK, something to try I suppose.

Thanks

 

[JR]

I went through all the normal means and anything that was in this thread... and it was the most unlikely of things. I figured I did everything else and the tires are getting worn so I changed the tires (always had standard sized tires on the truck) Took off the Goodyear Silent armor tires and put on a set of general grabbers all terrain.. and problem was solved.
Some times the simplest things are the first things overlooked.

No alignments or anything else done at the same time? I'm not sure how tires alone could cause such high steering efforts..
I run 285/75/17s with very little to no steering effort, even at a stop. I try to avoid cranking the wheel without moving if possible, but if I have to there is little effort required.

 

[drlabatomy]

No alignments or anything else done at the same time? I'm not sure how tires alone could cause such high steering efforts..
I run 285/75/17s with very little to no steering effort, even at a stop. I try to avoid cranking the wheel without moving if possible, but if I have to there is little effort required.

Alignment was done after the tires were replaced. Same size tires just different manufacturer.... Trust me it never made sense to me either. I had the tires installed by a tire guy.. i watched the whole process and all he did was balance and change tires.