Power Steering Issues

Power steering works fine when I turn the wheel at a slow to medium rate, but if I turn is quick to either side it loses its power status and acts as non power.

Fluid is correct, lines are not kinked, steering gear is a rebuilt unit that worked fine and the belt is aligned and tight. The pump is old and of unknown origins.

Under normal driving it works fine, but try and make quick steering changes at slow speed and it become difficult to turn the wheel.

There should be no more air in the system from my recent work, so I do not believe thats the issue. No moaning or other obvious problems.

You guys think think the pump is taking a dump?

Thanks as always.

 

Or maybe not enough volume...

 

It seemed to work fine last year. Its a GM pump with a saginaw box. Nothing weird or modified.

 

If you were closer I have a Pump you could try,proly just tired....just a thought,maybe a proportioning valve got stuck while sitting around(rust,dirt),open up the saginaw and look,?

 

Thanks for the offer.
The steering box was a rebuilt unit I put on about a year ago. The P/S pump came with the bracket and just happened to work, so I went with it. Just wondering if this might be symptomatic of a failing pump. Maybe its producing less pressure or less volume or both than the box requires. I would rather it not disintegrate and wreck the box. I guess that could be an issue.

I am not even really sure what this P/S pump came off of. Buick 350 maybe? Craigslist find, so ...

 

That does act like pump failure that I have experienced on heavy equipment,but also have been fooled by failed seals and valves.

 

Sound like a bad pump, had same issus before... when you do quick turn it get the oil fluid hotter so the pump can't handle it.

Buy a replacement pump and you should be ok.

Just to make sure, did you bleed the power steering with engine off, with tire off the ground and do 25-30 lock to lock on steering wheel?

 

Pump failure........as already mentioned. A loose or slipping belt is also a common issue.........and as tire size goes up trying to keep enough surface area ( belt and pulley contact ) becomes really important.......

 

If you thing the pump is good, check the belt again. I chased a power steering issue for a while and it ended up the belt. I made some changed and moved the pump, put new belts on while at it, and had issues. Figured it was something I did while moving the pump, after I replaces everything I still had the problem and tossed the original belt back on. Problem went away.

 

+1 on this.

 

I will check belt. I did not do the 25 reps of lock to lock on stand with engine off. Just turned it on and did it. Maybe I killed it!!!

Thanks a lot guys

 

I had a problem with my truck. I turned up the idle 50 rpm's and problem went away. Try that, but I think pump is worn out. I would call or drop by a hydraulics shop and throw out issue, it could be a matching issue. They will know right away. There is Maybe not enough volume to run the box, as when you don't run correct master cylinder with slave.

Regards, Cole

 

Yes, 100 rpm increase and there is no problem. My replacement showed up today.

 

Took off old P/S pump. Fluid smelled burnt. I bet the vanes are gone. Probably stuck inside the steering gear and will wreck that too. Says I need to flush the P/S system. I am not doing that. I don't have the ability.

I didn't take pics because its self explanatory on how to do this. You really need an impact wrench to get the nut off the tapered shaft if thats they style you have though. Trying to do it any other way will likely wreck your pulley.

The pump itself lives inside the reservoir and has a big oring on the outside of the pump body. I guess it works fine, but getting it back together without ruining the reservoir body is pretty important. I didn't wreck mine.

I used to just dump Dexron in there, but since they reformulated it many times over, I have switched to "power steering fluid". Its more expensive and I dont know why its better than ATF. If you guys tell me regular Dexron or another ATF will work, I will go back to that. Worst thing that can happen is I wreck it. Probably will happen all on its own anyway.

I did jack up there front end and turn lock to lock 25 times. Before it didn't make the awful squeal when it goes to lock, now it does. Gotta not do that. sounds like I'm killing it.

 

The squeal is a good sign. That's just the belt slipping because the power supplied (limited by belt slippage) is less than the power needed. Tighten the belt and roll.

 

Yeah, I did all of it during nap time while I am watching my youngest. Cant quite leave him alone to fend for himself yet as I drive off. When I dropped it off the jacks I tightened the belt. See how it works when the wife gets home from her outing.

 

Drove it around. Problem solved. Steers fine at 575~650 RPM idle and above. Real nice actually.

 

Flushing the power steering system isnt that difficult. Just need a gallon or so of extra fluid. Plug the return fitting on the pump and run the return hose from the box into a bucket. Start engine and add fluid as the old fluid and trash is pumped into the bucket. It's not a bad idea to do this on any vehicle as maintenance. They make kits to install a filter and or cooler in this circuit also. Glad to hear all is good.

 

Hey, so I guess I can flush the system.. Drives so nice now. Thanks!

 

Glad you were successful. I'm a craigslist guy too! Sometimes I win and sometimes I dont. But mostly in win. I don't have any problem using ATF, it works fine. I would fill it and with motor off. Then start and turn the wheel lock to lock multiple times with motor running. Then shut it down and suck fluid out with a hand suction device. They sell them at harbor freight for like $10.00.
You probably already have one. I would fill it another time, then start and lock to lock again multiple times and shut down, then suck it out. Fill again and ready to party. Any bad juju will be gone.

Regards, Cole