saccowboy

Hey guys I have an 03 3500 with a 5.9 in it. I have toyo 285/70r17 tires and a leveling kit. I was having hard steering and a whining noise so I replaced the power steering pump two weeks ago and everything seemed fine. My gf was driving the truck today and she said the truck was very hard to turn in the parking lot all of a sudden. I took it for a test drive and the truck would barely turn. It only wanted to turn while moving or from a stop while on the accelerator. As soon as I would let off the accelerator it would get hard again. I drove for a little while and when I came home I could barely get it to turn into driveway trying everything.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have the weekend off and would like to tackle it because my diesel shop can't get to it for atleast a week.

Thanks,
Will

saccowboy

Ok so I just did a few checks to rule out a few possibilities. First, the brake pedal takes about 5 pumps before it gets hard so I do not believe it can be the hydrobooster. Second, there is no fluid coming from the power steering pump. Third, the steering gear box has some fluid leaking from the top down the sides of it. Could my problem be caused by a bad steering box?

RiverRat2

Yep!!!!!! See this,,,,

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...g-t251893.html

saccowboy

Ok RiverRat, I appreciate the help. I will look at the frame when I get everything off.

Thanks

1985cucv

ok what might have happened is that the pump went south and you put a new pump on it. did you blow out the lines? cuz that stuff will just ruin a new pump if you dont also use good fluid

saccowboy

Ok so Saturday night I finished the gear box install and waited till Sunday morning to flush the lines. I flushed the lines and bled the system till it was primed. Wouldnt you know it, no wheels turning after all that. So I did the process again and nothing. I should have just pulled the pump and replaced that again, it probably would have been easier. I have the pump off today which has a lifetime warranty from autozone. I am going to exchange it out tomorrow after work.

I have a question for you guys, since I had a shop do the pump the first time I am not sure. The manual says not to use the powersteering pump pulley again... Have you guys reused this pulley? I can't see why I can not use it again as long as it isnt bent.

Thanks

bcfitzsimons

Saccowboy is it because the pulley is pressed on? I'd have to look at mine and see. If it's pressed on they'll tell you not to reuse it because most people screw it up taking it off and then pounding back on the new pump-it'll be pounded out-of-round and then your whole truck will vibrate when you start the engine.