My truck has 210k miles on it........about 20k or so ago I got tired of slop in the steering and replaced all the linkages with new moog stuff. I have the DSS. I also put in a PSC 841mx, which is the 3 turn box, with light valving. Drove great, but sitting still on pavement could only turn steering wheel like half a turn either way from center. Did some online searching and did mods to the steering pump valve.......worked great. The next morning when I got to work I sat in the parking lot with truck idling, turned the wheels back and forth lock to lock 3 times and all of a sudden BAM. No power steering or power brakes. Power steering pump casting had broken. Limped the truck home (pain in the butt to steer and brake w/o power assist). Came back to town in another vehicle and got a napa reman power steering pump. Went home and changed it out........same thing.......only turn a little each way sitting still. I called psc and they suggested I try their regular 841m pump, w/o light valving. I changed it out, no improvement, heavier steering. Put the 841mx back on. Now I have lived with this for several months. Sometimes when driving 10mph or so through a parking lot the power steering pump groans. I am considering getting a new power steering pump from PSC......as back when I was going through all this they said their pumps were set to higher pressure. It seems to me if I just have more pressure all will be fine. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

Waylan

 

My 96 had same issue with heavy steering , built up pressure as mentioned and split the pump.I replaced the pump with the one from my 91 wreck. I acquired a box with the light valve from a rebuilder here in Ontario and now have much improved steering. I wonder if PCS sent you the correct box in the first place,perhaps the assembler installed the normal valve by mistake. I would steer away from a pump with increased pressure after my experience.Dodge dealers are supposed to have a tool to test the pressure of the steering pump. This would likely be the way to go.