Replaced Power Steering Pump but still have same problem. Your thoughts?

[Old Yeller 1970]

I replaced my few-years-old rebuilt power steering pump with another rebuild because it quit working. It was making that familiar growling noise and was hard to steer. However, after installing the new one I still have the same issue. My dad thinks it may be a bad rebuild. Since it's such a pain to replace, I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something else and I'm wondering if there could be something wrong in the gear box that could cause the same issue. Has anyone else had this happen?

FWIW, After turning the wheel, I've noticed that the power steering fluid is foamy when I look down into the reservoir.

[Tmend]

You might have a restriction in one of you lines or in the box if so it will make that noise steering will be hard and eventually will cause your pump to over heat and burn out.....just a suggestion............look over your system for any kinks it the metal lines or debri in the box good luck....
Posted via Mobile Device

[STP67-72]

I just went through the same thing. Put new pump on and it got worse. My buddy told me right off that it was my box. Internal issues. Went and got one of my old nasty used boxes and works like a charm. My fluid was foaming and running over. I have been working on trucks forever and never ran across this. Hope this helps.

[1956cameo]

Sounds to me like the power steering gear box has gone out. If that goes out it will make even the best power steering pump useless.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 1956cameo

sounds to me like the power steering gear box has gone out. If that goes out it will make even the best power steering pump useless.

x 2

[FL71C10]

Can you test a pump? Should fluid come out the line if you spin the pulley by hand?

[Old Yeller 1970]

As it turns out I still had air in the pump. It just took a lot, lot longer to get it all out than I thought it should. I've done this several times before and never had this kind of trouble. However, once the air was fully purged it's worked fine since then. Apparently, the air was thoroughly mixed with the fluid (the foam I mentioned in the first post) and it took a while for it to bubble out.

[jerry moss]

when you install a new p-s pump it's best to lift the front wheels off the ground and turn the steering back and forth with no weight. sometimes it takes a while for all the air to go away.

[Old Yeller 1970]

And the saga continues.

Saturday I took Old Yeller out for a drive. Every thing was fine for the first few hours. Then I noticed the PS pump whining again. I assumed it was running low on fluid and after I got home I verified that it was empty. It had all run out. I thought it might have been a leak from the high pressure line which I'd noticed earlier was dripping a little bit. I went ahead and filled it up figuring to tighten it later. When I came back all the fluid was on the ground. When I crawled under to look at it I discovered the output shaft on the gear box and fallen out about an inch and that's were all the fluid was coming out. Whatever broke or came loose inside the gear box may have been my problem all along. I'm pulling the thing off tonight. I'll report back once I've got it apart.

[Old Yeller 1970]

Now that I have it apart I can see that the output shaft hadn't fallen down. It was just the shaft seals that had fallen out. The output shaft had grooves worn in it and the seals, washers and snap ring were all bent up which means it's worn out. Looks like its time for a new PS gear box.

[FL71C10]

Advance Discount Auto Parts has them for $125 or $140. I got one and it looks pretty good but I haven't put it in yet.

[brad_man_72]

time for a quick ratio box!

[long69]

just as a note: i found that i needed to have the engine running to bleed the air out of the box, every time i turned the wheels lock to lock with the engine off it would gush out the top of the pump. i don't know why this happened that way but after all the air was out it doesn't happen anymore.

[Old Yeller 1970]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Advance Discount Auto Parts has them for $125 or $140. I got one and it looks pretty good but I haven't put it in yet.

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

time for a quick ratio box!

I ordered the Advance Auto unit Saturday for $125-$25 online coupon, $45 core charge, free shipping and $11 tax for a total outlay of $111 bucks once I turn in the core. It's a 3.5 turn quick ratio plus it comes with a life time warranty. It should be here Thursday.