2004 Grand Caravan Steering Shudder

[93celicaconv]

My friend has a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.3L V6 with 90,000 miles on it. He asked me to look it over because the engine was making a whining noise for a long time and now it just started to shudder whenever he turns left at slow speed or at a stop, engine at low idle.

I found threads that suggested replacing the power steering reservoir because the filter tends to get clogged up, causing problems. So I did that, and flushed out the old fluid with new Mopar ATF+4, hoping this would correct both problems. Well, it did get rid of the whining noise, but the steering shudder still remains. In fact, if I work it hard enough, I can get the shudder on both left and right turns. No shudder when engine is running faster, just at slow idle though.

Found a TSB for this vehicle covering steering shudder. After reading it through, because it has no power steering fluid finned cooler now, I would need to replace the simple aluminum loop line with the finned cooler, and add a longer hose, to correct the problem.

Now here is my question: The vehicle has run for 6 years and 89,000 miles with its current short hose and aluminum tube cooler without a shudder. It recently developed the shudder - telling me something changed from time the shudder didn't exist to now when it does. The old aluminum tube cooler and short hose are constant (haven't changed them yet). Why did this shudder just develop now? And why should I believe a finned cooler and a longer return hose will solve the problem?

If anyone has any experience with this or knows any of these answers, I would really appreciate it. I don't want to spend my friend's money foolishly, and I don't want to do needless work.

BTW, I did put a pin hole in the accordion bellows on each side of the power steering rack, just to see if the rack has developed any leaks, and it has not.

Any inputs/advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

[RIP]

Could it just be the idle rpm is dropping too low as the wheels are turned? Not sure about 4th generation vans but others are designed to bump the idle up when the steering is turned to overcome the drag of the ps pump. It's a function of the IAC valve and PCM. Don't know what tells the PCM the steering is moving.

[hundahunta]

the bulletin also recommends to install a revised rack, this is a very common problem. we usually replace the rack and reservior, the bulletin to install longer cooler hoses does not work

[tazfink302]

Did you ever solve the problem? Our 98 is doing the same thing...

[93celicaconv]

Originally Posted by tazfink302

Did you ever solve the problem? Our 98 is doing the same thing...

If you are asking about my friend's 2004 Grand Caravan, he decided not to pursue any further repairs beyond the fluid reservoir replacement. He didn't want to spend my time or the money on something that wasn't a guaranteed fix. He hasn't brought up this vehicle up in conversation for a long time, so I don't know if the replacement reservoir gradually resolved the problem or if he is just living with the condition. Sorry.