Had the commonplace oil leak from the vaccum pump seal, so since I also was starting to have power steering problems at low rpm, I decided to install the Gould seal kit in the vaccum pump and also get a new power steering pump at the same time. Remove and replace went well due to excellent instructions in the gould kit. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE SPENT 3 DAYS TRYING TO BLEED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HYDROBOOST AND STILL DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. Had wheels off the ground, tried the official Dodge procedure, the Gould procedure, and my own, but nothing seems to work. Does Anybody have any ideas or tricks up their sleeve?


2002 dodge 3500 5.9L diesel

 

sounds like the pumps not working , must investigate

 

3 days... I think you either have a bad p/s pump or the drive sheared off in the vac pump. Is the brake light staying on? Any pressure from P/s pump?

 

Brake lights not on, pump not leaking. can disconnect high pressure line at hydroboost, start truck and get fluid. tried bleeding again but no luck, no brakes no power steering. will try another pump tomorrow.

 

sometimes they can be a b#### to bleed ,you can put a vacuam pump on pump filler cap and run truck to suck out air.

 

Are you using the correct fluid? Not ATF+4

 

Thanks folks, found the problem. it was either a bad pump or the wrong one-bought at O'reiley's. was not using ATF+4, just reg power steering fluid. After reinstalling the new one it took exactly 7 min. to bleed the air out and get back on the road. I didn't realize how bad my steering and brakes were getting until after the new PS pump was put on.

 

Its always nice to get it fixed and start saving for the next surprise, eh?

 

Yep SIXSLUG but it's still cheaper than a monthy note huh?

 

Regular power steering fluid sucked big time in winter...at basically any temp below freezing. Below -20, my power steering would scream like hell and barely work...with approved chrysler fluid. I believe that helped do in one hydroboost unit...nothing else I did ever put nearly as much stress on the system.

Since I replaced it with a good used one, I've been using atf+4. Now, no more problems. If something goes south because of it, so be it but at least it's working silently and well at any temperature.