Ever since I bought my truck a year and a half ago, my power steering has been really weak. If I'm stopped, I can't turn the wheel. With any forward movement, the wheel turns fine. This happens whether or not my foot is on the brake. The fluid level is fine. I changed the fluid to Royal Purple - no help. I then added the Lucas additive - no help. The vacuum pump doesn't seem to beleaking at all.

Wasondering if this is a "common" problem? Will a new power steering pump fix this? I hate to throw the money at one if it's not going to do anything.

Would appreciate any info. Thanks.

 

Dodge has a tool to test ps flow but it is not cost effective to buy one. Really the only things to go wrong in the system are the pump, gear and hoses. If it's a high mileage truck I would say do a pump and vac pump seal r&r.

 

It can only be the PSP Bummer

 

The vacuum pump was replaced before I bought the truck so the seal should be good (right?). I have no problem throwing the $whatever at a new pump if it will fix the problem. I just kinda wanted to get some feedback here that a new pump will do the trick.

Rockwithjason/Smokindog: do either of you have any problem turning the wheel while at a stop? Have either one of you had to replace the steering pump for similar problems I've described and, if so, did a new pump fix it?

 

I replaced the PSP last year around this time. Not because I couldn't turn it at a stop, but because it dropped the return line and I lost all the fluid, then I could barely turn it at all. We were working at a coal mine in West Virginia and I didn't know it happened until we were heading down the windy, barely two lane wide, mountain road back to the hotel. When I finally crawled under it and tightened the return line it was too late.
The new PSP went on and has been good as new ever since.

Are you sure the vacuum pump was replaced? That bad boy is like $2000+ with a core charge. More than likely it was rebuilt or bought as a reman.

 

It's a little known fact but there is a strainer screen on the PS pump that can clog.

 

Hmmm...I didn't know about the screen. I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

As for the vacuum pump, I'm positive it was replaced before I bought it. The dealer I bought it from got into a bit of a disagreement with the company that auctioned the truck. Seems he paid $200 or something like that for a "certified inspection" and they missed it. So he replaced it (at the $1500 or so) before I bought it and then got into a heated debate because it was missed.

So...clean the screen and see if that helps. If not, looks like it's a new power steering pump.

 

Try PSC...IIRC they have a high flow pump for less than $200.....

 

Any chance ya gotta URL for them?

Cheers,
Steve J

 

http://www.pscpowersteer.com/

 

I'm betting the pump won't fix it, but let us know how it goes.

 

Well don't leave us hangin, what do you think jbody?

 

I guess it's to what degree the wheel does not have assist. I have run into this with customers for a long time with low assist during parking lot manuevers. You find alot of the time that at low rpms "idle" that the wheel is hard to turn when standing still, but you increase the rpms a little and it turns ok. Bigger the tire, or offset aftermarket wheels, the worse it gets. Maybe it's a flow issue, I'm not sure. If the pump, or aftermarket pump, improves it that would be nice to know. I know that on older GM's that had "morning sickness", low or no assist when cold, we would take the main fitting and drill the orfice out two bit sizes larger and it would often take care of the prob (see infidels pict) without blowing out the rack seals. Maybe the same principle would apply here....not sure.

 

Check your balljoints. Seriously. Jack the truck up, and disconnect your tieroads. tthen turn the wheel, is it really stiff. My father has a 2001 2500 v-8 and the same exact thing was going on. very stiff to turn, and when you go it turned it didnt want to straighten back up. Balljoints were so freakin tight that he thought he lost PS. its an easy, cheap cost nothing test, and it may save you a few bucks wasted if it is a problem.