Power steering almost locks up on turns after replacing pump and gear box

[MIkeman28]

Hello everyone. Ive searched the forum up and down and found some similar problems to mine, but not quite the same.

I have a 97 Tahoe 4X4, 4 door.

Recently my power steering pump was leaking, I was told I need to replace the Pum,p, steering gear box anbd high pressure hose. So I did at Firestone.

Well, its only been a day and so far, I am getting alot of resistance when trying to turn in either direction, especially while slowing down. It happens very often, it almost at time locks up and just wont turn untill I turn the wheel the oposite direction and jerk it back. Quite dangerous.

Firestone told me that they've seen this happen before, and that it may just need a couple days to "Bleed", and it will be back to normal.

I am very careful and I drive slow especially when turning now, but it just doesnt seem right for a reputable mechanic to let someone go with a risky problem like this.

I know for a fact its not my EVO because I already changed that and it fixed my "easy steering" problem, what could cause this? Did I get a bad product installed in my truck? Or does it REALLY need a couple days to bleed? Please if anyone can help me out. My problem is I bought the parts from a local parts store to get the cheaper price, "Same brand firestone uses", but since I didnt pay a million dollars to get the parts through Firestone, they want to charge me labor again, and I just want to avoid that.

[MIkeman28]

BTW, the truck is a 5.7L, no hydro-boost, and the pump was replaced with a resorvoir

[tbayliss]

It does sound like the system needs to be bled, but its easy to do. Make sure the reservoir is full and turn it to the stop one way, hold it there a few seconds and do the same for the other stop. Shut it down and check the fluid. It will probably be all foamy and low. Fill it up and keep doing this until it turns smoothly from lock to lock.
I agree, a reputable mechanic should not have let you go out the door this way. I hate to say it, but you probably didn't really need a gearbox either. I've never had good luck with mechanics and steering trouble, always wound up fixing it myself.

[txgearhead]

I have a 98 5.7L 4X4 and have similar problems, not to that extreme. I know I need an new EVO though (the wanderer). It only happens when I am slowing down and turning and I can muscle through it and keep going.