Powersteering issue

[silvrzuki77]

Well my 5 day trip to death valley turned into a one nighter. Getting ready to pull on to the trail and bam zero power steering! Zero issues before hand, have a clamp kit no leaks nothing! Able to drive back to vegas and turns either directions with put speed had to use my guns with a howl. Fluid level is perfect no discorloration or smell. Pulled the tires off and obviously with no weight everything seems perfect. No weird sounds, rack moves in and out perfect and smooth. Rpm's seemed to help when i was going up hills with steering. Anyone have anything similar? Thinking PS pump? Any suggestions?

 

[alrock]

Perhaps the pump decided it was better to burn out than fade away. Does sound like a PS pump issue.

 

[SolidusJ]

WOW this sounds like a good one!!! Try removing the belt and see if you can move the pulley if so maybe the bearing but I keep coming to the point that you would hear it make noise and it should still work. Have you checked out the steering steering column for any binding but also there's that fact that it's doing it's job just with out power. :wtf:

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

bet you broke the pulley shaft... if so, you're lucky it didn't pop the radiator. Do NOT ask me how I know about that unless you insensitive to many cuss words and graphic illustrations.

 

[silvrzuki77]

Pulley seems to be moving fine. No binding on the column. Pretty weird overall. Sucks big balls ruined a awesome trip, but at least it failed before the serious trails started I guess. Busted azz to get my trailer going and failure.

 

[silvrzuki77]

Zero play in the pulley as far as I can tell. Going to order the PS pump and pull the old one tomorrow. Cheaper to replace the pump versus the rack.

Ps I had plenty if bad words going on today lol. Made it home abd lots of beer to help ease the pain slightly

 

[silvrzuki77]

Oh and I just turned 40k on it today. I bought it with 32k and unkown how much it was actually abused before.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I'll be interested to see what the issue is. I have to replace my pump because it's starting to vibrate/growl at idle.... supposed to arrive today

 

[Mr_Rich]

Same thing happened to me...it was the pump. Steering still works fine now after several thousand miles since I replaced the pump. I donated my old one to Alex...;^)

 

[silvrzuki77]

Well wasted my day, pulled it all apart steering fluid looked like motor oil! Pump turned fine and all cleaned out the reservior and pump with sea foam for fun then reinstalled hoping the filter was clogged. Flushed the crap out of the entire system. Used 4 bottles of fluid till it was running clear. No luck waiting to hear back from gm parts for a new pump.

 

[DJinCO]

Had this happen to my Tahoe. It was a pin in the impeller for the pump.
Mine was covered by warranty. That was many years ago.

 

[Bigunit]

Could be the steering rack seal around the internal piston inside the rack as the fluid isn't staying in it's proper chamber/side of the rack as the seal is worn out. If it turns out to be the case, please post up and let us know but that means that you will need a new rack and can take the old one apart in the interest of "science". ..and if that is the case, it means one thing, but let's wait and see if it's the PS pump first.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapataint

 

[silvrzuki77]

Yup I will post up the findings. I was under the impression if the rack was bad it would be more one side of the rack wouldnt turn?? Im starting with the cheaper option lol. But deep down im expecting it too be the rack since its more expensive.

 

[06 H3]

So is it safe to say if the pump goes bad from old fluid the rack is probably shot too?

 

[silvrzuki77]

I dont think soo but who knows.

 

[silvrzuki77]

Well no updates recently since GMPartsdirect was soo slow to respond to the part I need and then shipped it the slowest method possible and then when order was placed the thursday before last they didnt actually ship it till the following tuesday!!!!!! Well pump should today at 3pm got to work and installed it. Course the brand new fluid reservior return line nipple was broken out of the box! Soo tore it all out again and put the old reservior on. (Cleaned and flushed). Well after doing the purging the system, I am happy to say the pump was bad. Im pretty sure the relief valve was bad, going to tear it apart tomorrow. Soooo if your PS system decides not to work for no reason its the pump. Soo far rack is fine and hopefully stays that way.