Power Steering questions
 

Hi,

I took my daughter to an empty parking lot to practice her parking skills. All was good with the truck, no so much with the parking practice. After about 20 minutes the truck started making some whining, grinding, and rattling noises. We headed home and I discovered the high pressure steering line head split and sprayed power steering fluid over the engine bay. The power steering reservoir was low and I topped it off with fresh fluid but it still sounded horrible pulling into the driveway. It also seemed to drag the engine idle down as well. My question is did we ruin the steering pump or will it return to normal after the high pressure hose is replaced? If the pump is toast, what do you recommend as a good replacement? Also what is the procedure for removing air from the system after hose replacement.

Thanks!

Re: Power Steering questions
 

If you ran it dry for any length of time it probably smoked the pump. Replace the broken line, fill it, turn it lock to lock a couple of times. If it is still howling - time for new or rebuilt. I have had good luck with rebuilts but some prefer new. You will need a P/S pulley puller/installer. You can rent one. But you can't get the pump off without removing the pulley. Good luck!

Re: Power Steering questions
 

Thanks 92 GMC! I replaced the high pressure line and the pump was barely pumping anything. I took your advice and got a rebuilt pump from NAPA with an EVO bypass connector. Removing the pump was pretty straightforward. The rebuilt pump had the studs on the back reversed and all of NAPA's stock was the same reversed way. I unscrewed the studs and swapped them. The pulley install was a bear because I used the rinky dink bolt and washer that was in the rebuilt pump box. I ended up renting the install tool and it was a piece of cake then. The steering feel without the EVO is so much nicer. Thanks for your advice!

Re: Power Steering questions
 

EVO bypass connector?

Paul

Re: Power Steering questions
 

Re: Power Steering questions
 

Wow thanks! This solenoid went out while my truck was still under warranty. I'm going to have to check to see if they bypassed it or not,

Paul