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Steering issues

RNation

RNation

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Location
St.Peters, MO
Hey fellows, been awhile since I was around here last. Been pretty busy with work.

Anyhow, my last issue was the steering or gear box (I think thats what it was called, sits on the end of steering shaft) was leaking fluid. Now I have a kind of new thing going on and I'm wondering if it's related to the gear box. The only way I can explain the noise is that it's the screeching noise you hear when you turn the steering wheel too far to either side. Well I get that noise sometimes when steering too fast while the truck is barely moving. It gets alot worse in the winter, to the point that I almost got stuck in a parking spot one night becasue the steering wheel wouldn't move enough without screeching up a storm. It makes the noise with the power steering reservoir full on fluid.

So I'm wondering if the gear box would cause that issue. Also the power steering pump is no older than 2 years but I think it may be closer to 1 1/2 years. And I just remembered, when I have to hit the brakes hard it makes the same exact screeching noise.

Thanks in advance
 
you did make sure the belt is good and tight? mine does that when it starts to stretch. the funny thing is it's not a belt squeal.

But NVW is definitely on the right track, check the pump itself.
 
So is the hydro boost the same component as the power steering pump or is it a seperate component altogether?
 
OK thanks for the info. Now is there a way that I can tell for sure which component it is? If it means anything, the steering has been kind of funny lately. It's hard to explain what it's doing. I guess loose would be the best word I can think of right now.
 
I think you're gonna have to get under there with the front end on stands and spend some time checking each steering and axle component. It helps to have an assistant wiggling wheels back and forth, side to side, top to bottom, sawing on the steering wheel, etc.
 
I will try that out. Anyone know if the gear box could cause any of these problems? Mine had a leak to where it would have a pretty steady drip, but somehow it kinda fixed itself, it drips very slowly now. Also I make sure the power steering fluid stays topped off. I never changed the gear box because I've heard from a few people that it's a pain. But if it's causing problems then it has to go.

Also, could any of these components cause the brakes not to be as efficient?
 
Sounds like you are loosing pressure from the pump. One would think it is a loose belt. It is possible that the pulley is slipping on the shaft as well. Have a friend stand off to the side, but not directly in line with the belt, wearing goggles, watch the PS pump pulley while you jam the brake pedal to the floor and go full lock to one side. This will be the highest system pressure. It will slip the belt or indicate where the noise is coming from. (Be aware that the belt can break or come off if it is loose as well as the pulley - so be warned about this rare but dangerous condition when testing.)

Next in line for a screech is a P/S pump bearing. As your steering box is leaking I would shotgun the entire system if you have a bad pump bearing. Failed bearing would put trash through the entire system. May as well exchange the leaking steering box and hydro-booster along with the PS pump. Flush what is left of the system and look at a in line filter for PS systems.

Booster and steering box are both difficult jobs with the booster being harder to get the bolts. The fork needed to pop the pitman arm off the steering shaft and pitman arm puller are not that hard to get. I have done both in my driveway - compressed air and a impact is a requirement...

In normal system operation the brakes get priority over the steering for system pressure. There is a relief valve in the system that opens around 1200 PSI. I think it is in the pump and it could be opening too low or have debris in it. It could also stick and stop the pump cold with a tight belt from excessive pressure...
 
I did the test with with the steering wheel all the way to one side and had my wife hit the brakes hard enough to make the squeal. The pulley on the power steering pump did slow up drastically. It was hard to indicate where the squeal was coming from though. Is it possible to have the the pulley slowed and the squealing come form another spot? Also the belt seems tight to me, not super tight though.

Could I check the P/S pump bearing (I think your referring to the bearing that helps the pulley spin) by removing the belt and seeing if the squealing noise persists (maybe by just hitting the brakes real hard versus turning the wheel all the way)?

Your saying if the P/S pump bearings are bad that you would go ahead and replace the gear box, hydra booster and P/S pump? Or replace the gear box anyways and hydra booster anyways? (I understand this will be difficult, especially for me haha, so I want to make sure I do whats best but at the same time not do anything extra)

The relief valve you say is in the P/S pump? If so, is that something that I can take apart and check the valve or would the pump just need to be replaced?
 
If the PS pulley is suddenly slowing down the belt is slipping. I think the v belt is direct drive of the crankshaft with no rubber damper to fail.

So you are down to a loose/bad belt or high system pressure. As you loose power steering without being at full steering lock this indicates pump drive problems like a slipping belt vs. high pressure.

I hear the 6.2's take a wider v-belt that isn't made anymore so this may be part of your issue. Gates green was the best I recall reading?
 
I got a new belt from napa, one of the gates belts. I remember someone, i think aces posting something about it in a previous thread i had. I think he serp belt system would be ok, but I don't really want o go through all that for the belts, unless of course I keep having belt issues but since I got the gates belt for my alternator they have been fine. I think the belt for the power steering was a cheap auto zone belt.

I made 2 posts in this thread that didn't show up, dont know what happened.
 
hopefully it's the end of the issues. the differences in the belts are night and day. I still gotta do the one for the PS on mine, just waiting for it to wear out. I figure end of January when it's -20 or so. :mad2: I like the challenge,:rof:
 
haha, my problem is I'm either busy or procastinating.

I got the belt swapped out and voila, it doesn't even screech with the wheel turned all the way or with the breaks all the way down, or both lol.

I did notice however, while under the truck, the bottom of the hydra booster has fluid on it (a good amount). So maybe I'll have to swap that out anyways. I'd like to go ahead and swap that and the gear box but the gear box kind of scares me lol. Things that take you guys a day could take me two or three, and I dont want to miss any work, ya know? ( gear box is still leaking slowly)
 
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