efbeason

I appreciate any help right up front. I have been noticing a hard spot in my steering wheel for a while. But, yesterday the steering I went to turn in a road and could not straighten the wheel back up. I replaced the power steering pump and it still does the same thing. Could the gear box have come apart or something? Hydroboost? Vacuum Pump? Any suggestions? Anybody had similar problems? Thanks again!

1-2-3

Could be the steering box. Could also be multiple other things under the front. Ball joint, tie rod end. Have you looked underneath it and shook things around?

efbeason

Yeah, I have been under it and looked at the ball joints and the tie rod ends. I don't see anything binding it. It is also tied in with the brakes. The brakes and this have been kinda messing up together. It had all been sporadic until yesterday.

1-2-3

Can you disconnect the steering box and turn it by itself. I gotta feeling that's were it's at.

efbeason

Thanks, I just went to the local NAPA store and bought me a reman gearbox. We'll see if that fixes it!

BigIron70

I hope you have a good pitman puller because you'll need one.

SoTexRattler

THATS no joke! Don't be surprised if you break the puller! I broke my puller and I broke an 11K Lb hydraulic porta-power puller trying to get mine off.
I finally took mine to a friendly Dodge service mgr and he used his old beatup heavy duty puller with a big old air impact and it resisted about 2 minutes of steady impacting, but in the end it finally popped off...

At least if you have to get ugly with it by putting some heat on it, the old gearbox is going back as a core!

efbeason

Well, I got a new power steering pump on and the new gear box on and that fixed the locke up wheel. But, now the brakes apply themselves when the wheel is turned. It doesn't matter which way the wheel turns but it will apply the brakes. Hydroboost? Thanks!

patdaly

This doesn't help you, but that is the first time I have ever heard of that happening............

How hard are the brakes being applied?

Perhaps not totally bled on the pump?

bludodge21111

a buddy of mine just went through a similar problem on his '01, we replaced the powersteering pump and vaccum pump and that fixed it for him. His brakes had locked up and the steering now everything is fine. idk if it the same on a 12 valve. hope this helps.

BigIron70

That's a first I have never heard of that before, I just hope you didn't get power steering fluid in your master cylinder fluid by mistake.

infidel

That's pretty odd since the vacuum pump on an '01 only runs the cruise, climate controls and 4wd.
It has nothing at all to do with steering or brakes.

efbeason

Well, I got the problem fixed. I replaced the power steering pump and that didn't do anything. But, the pump did leak and probably would have needed replacing before long anyway. But, the problem seemed to be with the hydroboost. I replaced the steering gear box and that unlocked the wheel but the steering still wasn't right. And, the brakes would self-apply every time the wheel was turned. So, I replaced the hydroboost and it fixed it. From what my Chrysler Service Manual says, there are a couple of valves inside the hydroboost. All I can figure is that one of those came apart and lodged in the steering gear box. When it locked up, it only did it when the motor was running. If the engine was off the steering wheel would move, albeit not very well and it popped something awful. But, with the engine running it there was no moving it. I am assuming that the hydraulic pressure from the power steering pump was holding pressure against whatever came apart in the hydroboost and lodged in the pump. Those of you who can do more than speculate feel free to chime in. I appreciate those of you who made suggestions!