This morning I went to leave for work as I started to roll out of the drive way the brake pedal was real hard and I could not stop.Then I tried to turn and there was no steering.I went about an eighth of a mile like this hit the throttle a little and things were fine.Is it a vacume pump going out or what ? It is an 01 with 65000 on it.

 

Usually the vacuum pump will leak a fair bit before it goes out....is it doing that?

 

'01 doesn't have vacuum assisted brakes. Check your PS fluid level. Main the thing that goes wrong with hyd assist brakes and steering is the accumulator goes out. PS fluid will turn frothy and usually overflows.

 

I've run into a few trucks over the years that customers brought in that had that same thing happen to them. All was working fine and we never have seen one fail to the point where we could diag it good enough to determine what the cause is. I feel if the fluid level is fine being you had a no assist brake and steering the prob is most likely in the pump. If your brakes were hard, but the steering still good, this would tell me the pump psi is ok and the prob would be in the hydro boost assy (accumulator usually as bill stated).

 

I did notice a spot of some type of fluid on the concrete when I came home that day.I smeled it but couldn't realy tell what it was.There was never any thing leaking before or since.I also feel a bumbing or knockig in the steering wheel and brake pedal when stoping on bumpy road.You can also here it like a dull knocking sound it is makeing me mental.

 

I took a better look today it was the ps pump that over flowed.now what do I do.I hope whatever needs replaced is covered by my ext warranty.

 

I seem to have the exact same problem. Oil in the driveway, no brakes and no steering.


What is the solution?


Thanks,
Dave Smith

 

On mine (98.5) I had the same problem once- remedied it by removing the old PS fluid and filling it with new one.
The old fluid was only foam creeping out of my ps pump then. Started to act up when it got really cold the first time in the year. I took my time replacing the fluid and changed it again after 2 days to get the system clean. Since then no more growling or squealing power steering or power brakes when the truck is cold.

HTH
AlpineRAM