I have had a problem with my truck's power steering for a LONG time now.
At a dead stop at idle, I can turn the wheel about a 1/4 turn, then the wheel stops dead, if you work at it enough you can obviously turn it, but without power assist.

I have replaced the steering box for several different reasons, I just replaced the power steering pump and put in a high-flow hydroboost unit.
I was able to turn the wheel all the way around both ways easily for the first few miles, then it went back to the SAME symptoms.

I had the Dodge dealer test my hydroboost pressure before I replaced it.. he said it seemed to be giving adequate pressure to the steering box, but thinks maybe the valving may be sticking in the steering box (which is what I figured was happening in the hydroboost unit). I've had 4 different AGR steering boxes on the truck and EVERY one has done this.. I doubted that could be it, so I put the hydroboost on anyways.

I've done the pumps mods, where you drill out the fitting and also stretched the spring out before I put the new pump on, if anyone was wondering about that.

Does anyone have ANY idea what I need to do to get this thing working right?

Let me know, I'm REALLY sick of this. Thanks in advance!

 

Hi-pressure line goes from the pump to the hydroboost unit - hydroboost return goes back to the upper return line on the p\s pump cannister - hi-pressure line leaves the hydroboost going to the p\s gearbox - p\s return line goes to second return line under the p\s pump cannister.

There are two main p\s pumps - one for the '96 back with vacuum brake booster, and one for the '97-up with hydroboost, recognizeable by the dual return lines.

For '96 the V10 pump was highest pressure, but the '97 Diesels got the higher pressure also, with new springs and orifice sizing.

There are two p\s gearboxes, one for the lighter V8 trucks, and one for the V10 and Cummins - HF with variable ratio, and BN with standard ratio.

They all look alike - what is your configuration?

BTW - stretching the spring can destroy the temper.

 

I've got hydroboost with dual return lines. Everything I left in the quote sounds like what I have. I have the PS box for the Cummins. I should I also note I run the DSS Stabilizer.

Someone on TDR said "Have you checked the two pressure hoses that go from the pump to the brake booster and from the booster to the steering box? They have a rubber inner liner wrapped with (for lack of a better term) string, then covered by rubber. If that inner hose collapses or clogs it would cause that problem."

Sound quite possible?

 

disconnect the stabilizer and try it I had one do what you describe on a old ford and it turned out to be the stabilizer. Just a thought Matt

 

Are you talking the stock steering stabilizer, the one that uses the concept of a shock absorber?

I will try this!

 

Couldn't possibly collapse under 1500psi - construction he's referring to is sop for hi-pressure hydraulic rubber hose.

And it is possible that either is plugged up - pull each off and back-blow thru it with 100psi shop air.

Easy enough to replace at about 40bucks each.

You may need to tee in a gage port on the hose from the pump to the hydroboost, and another on the hose from the hb to the steering box, see where it's losing the 1500psi - or if it is even developing that much pressure.

Other two lines to the reservoir are low pressure return - either one would blow off if plugged.

First sign of excessive bypassed volume is frothy fluid in reservoir.

 

If you are talking about hydraulic boost pressure to the steering gear box...if the booster valving is stuck in the brake mode...this might give symptoms too from what I understand. I need to look into the valving concept better myself. Any thoughts?

 

All of the p\s fluid at pressure passes thru the hydroboost unit when not braking - only a small portion is diverted when stepping on the brake pedal, and that is returned to the p\s pump when the pedal is released.

The 'booster uses pressure with minimal volume.

The p\s box uses the majority of the pressurized volume - possibility the pump cannot build pressure, or is bypassing most of the pressure, which will cause high steering effort, but not high braking effort.

Connect the pressure hose from the pump directly to the p\s box to determine if the pump is producing enough pressure for steering assist.

No need to drive the vehicle to test this, so no braking is needed.

 

My 02 has the same problem as Bobcat698. When I stop at an idle, mainly on the side of the road trying to turn wheel toward curb, I get about 1/4 turn in steering before it acts like my old 67 Ford F100. I don't mind the workout, but it gets old. Could it be a defective pump

 

I went through this about 6 mons back, changed out my steering box, and my steering went stiff right away, took it up to dodge, they could not find anything, I did notice the high pressure hoses were very hot, so I tried 2 more boxes and still no good, I went back to my old steering box with the play still there.I was told that if the steering box is not rebuilt and adjusted right, it would give the problems I went through.
With the old box it steers easly, just has 3 inches of play to deal with. One person did say to me the cummings is heavy so deal with stiff steering.

 

Another vote for the stabilizer, my old man had a 97 gasser that turned really hard, so we swapped stabilizers and it steered like a dream.

 

You have never said you had braking problems.
You say is hard to steer.
You have replaced many steering pieces. Gears, pumps, hydroboost, fluids with no help.
Get the front wheels off ground and find the binding joint.
Is it 4wd?

 

For me this situation only occurs when standing still. Once I start to move all is fine. I am going to analyze the hydraulics circuit this weekend to see what is really going on (Theoretical vice Actual). Might make my parents proud of those Engineering degrees.