PS Pump or Steering Gear Box?

[tblake]

2004 Chev K1500 4x4 5.3.

Cousin ran the PS Pump low on fluid on his truck. When he added fluid, the steering wheel is really hard to turn at idle. Above idle at 1000 RPM, it turns like normal. So driving around it is OK. Just when at idle you can barely turn it like there is now power assist.

Chevrolet dealer quoted him 850.00 to replace the steering gear. My first gut instinct is the pump is not pumping enough fluid at idle. So I'm leaning towards replacing the pump.

Any way to tell for sure?

Also he wants me to change out the gearbox. How hard is it to get it out of there? Any special tools needed when it comes to the pitman arm?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by tblake

2004 Chev K1500 4x4 5.3.

Cousin ran the PS Pump low on fluid on his truck. When he added fluid, the steering wheel is really hard to turn at idle. Above idle at 1000 RPM, it turns like normal. So driving around it is OK. Just when at idle you can barely turn it like there is now power assist.

Chevrolet dealer quoted him 850.00 to replace the steering gear. My first gut instinct is the pump is not pumping enough fluid at idle. So I'm leaning towards replacing the pump.

Any way to tell for sure?

Also he wants me to change out the gearbox. How hard is it to get it out of there? Any special tools needed when it comes to the pitman arm?

are you sure all the airs out of the pump? you might jack front wheels and turn it right to left a few times to get air out. gear box maybe but i'd try this first.

[j cAT]

when this pump goes dry and you operate the vehicle the pump is junk..

when you install the new pump , lift both front wheels off the ground fill pump start engine turn wheel left /right ,,,but not too far. continue this until pump is full.


operating the pump with a load on it you will damage the new pump... let the air bubbles settle out for a hour . then recheck the fluid level......

[tblake]

So the concensus is that the pump is most likely the problem? He told me when he had to fill it it was completly empty.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by tblake

So the concensus is that the pump is most likely the problem? He told me when he had to fill it it was completly empty.

roger !

[tblake]

why would the dealer tell him the steering gear box is the issue then? Were they trying to take him for a ride?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by tblake

why would the dealer tell him the steering gear box is the issue then? Were they trying to take him for a ride?

power steering pump pumps fluid to create a pressure. needs to go at a higher RPM to generate the pressures required to aid in the steering effort.


the steering boxes do fail ..these fail over time as they WEAR OUT !

AS FAR AS THE DEALER IS CONCERNED these people basicly are experts on OEM manufacturer design / componet failures.

with sudden loss of power steering fluid they should know the steering box is not effected...

why say it is the box ?

have them first in writing stand behind this statement . when it is still broke see what happens !

[tblake]

Good Call gentlemen! New pump in and its back to normal. Just goes to show you to get a second opinion before having a dealer repair your vehicle.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by tblake

Good Call gentlemen! New pump in and its back to normal. Just goes to show you to get a second opinion before having a dealer repair your vehicle.

I am happy that this was corrected at a much lower cost.

why is it I can figure this out 1500miles away ? I am no GM certified goodwrencher !

simply , they are out to scam vehicle owners into more repairs.

this would have gone down like "WE HAD TO REPLACE THE BOX AND THE PUMP , BOTH BAD "

HELL ! I SAVED LOTS OF TIME AND MONEY HERE!

These forums cost the dealership a lot of easy cash .

[tblake]

You can say that again.

My gut instict was to replace the pump to.

He texted me after getting the dealers quote and asked if I would fix his truck. I asked if he wanted me to replace the steering gear or the pump. He said steering gear, so I said no... Told him I'd replace the pump for him but not the gear. He agreed. Next day changed to pump and all is good.

Thanks!!!