Power steering issues

[KirkLipscomb]

On my 1990 Cherokee, I have replaced my power steering pump and the high pressure hose. It is hard to turn, makes a grunting noise from the pump and the fluid is worked into a pink lather. Since I've replaced pretty much everything else, I assume there is a problem with the steering box.

Anybody have a better idea what this could be?

[AlohaBra]

Sounds like there is not enough fluid in there. Or maybe the pump is not working correctly. Open the high pressure hose fitting a little and see if it puts out pressure.

The foaming may be due to picking up air.

[KirkLipscomb]

It does have pressure. The old pump did this (sound, hard steering), then sprung a leak - the leak was from the high pressure hose, but at the time I thought it was leaking from the pump housing. When I put the new pump on, I did not replace the high pressure hose because I could not break it free where it goes into the steering box.

With the new pump on, it started leaking like crazy and now I could tell it was from the high pressure hose. Now that I knew it was bad I sawed off the hose end so that I could get a socket on there to remove the fitting that I had trouble with before. Now with the new hose, it still has difficult steering.

Moral is: the reservoir is full and the pump is providing pressure since it was really spewing when that bad hose was on.

[1996Chreokee]

Is your steering wheel hard to turn? I had a similar probllem about a year ago and a memebr told me a couple things to do.

1.) make sure you lube the u joint on the steering shaft under the air box.

2.) Flush your power steering system. Jack the front end up and remove the return hose to the pump and run several qts of steering fluid though the system while moving the wheels back and forth.. When your done bleed the system down by turning the steering wheel all the way to the right and left holding it for several seconds

mine works fine now

good luck

[AlohaBra]

The bleeding ideal is a good one. I would try that.