Still Have Problems With PS

[72BlckButy]

Okay, today, I finally got some time to go out and work on the truck for a little while this morning. So I go out and check out the powersteering pump that was giving me problems. We replaced it about a month ago, and the truck hasn't really moved, but a few trips (3) into town. Well, on the last trip, I let the truck cool off outside. When I went to pull it in, the powersteering pump started to whine again. So today I went out and drained some of the fluid out again, and checked the return line for fuid returning to the pump. Well, fluid started to pump out when I had it disconnected. So I put everything back together and decided to start her up.... Well.....no whine!!! Until....I drive it down the highway about a mile, and pull over check it and she's starting to whine a little then when I get home....it's a little louder. Does anyone have a possible reason for this? I've had this question on here once before, and someone said to check the lines, but since fluid pumped out I figured that the lines were ok. So I'm lost on what to do. This might be a stupid question, but what color is powersteering fluid? What I bought at the store was clear, and what's in the system turns red as it cycles. If there ATF in the steering box? Thanks in advance guys!

[matt67350]

Did you check the highpressure side. Was the pump new or reman.
May be the pump if it was a reman.

[68speedalert]

First off, if you removed the return side (the one with the hose clamp) fluid will drain out of the p/s pump resevoir. Why would you do that? oh well.

Secondly, unless you replaced the p/s box with a new/rebuilt unit, it still had the old fluid in it. Years ago, all you used was ATF for p/s and you know that is red. Your clear p/s has blended with the ATF and now looks red. Will not hurt a thing.

Usually a whine comes from air being in the system. When it is low, air gets in and makes the pump whine. It could be that all the air has not bled out of the system yet, even though it looks full. The fluid may look foamy when it's running. It may help to jack up the front end (tires hanging free) and turn the steering lock to lock a couple dozen times with the engine running . Shut it off, let it set a little, restart and see if it helps.

Reomving any lines is a waste of time and fluid. If you have power assist, the pump and box are working.

HTH,
Steve

[72BlckButy]

Hey thanks Steve! I'll go out and check that to see if it helps any. I just removed the lines to check and see if the fluid was returning to the pump, because the last post I did for this, someone said that the lines have the tendency to break apart and collapse. Now would the whine sound the same as if the bearing would be going out? You had said that a whine will come from air being in the system. I have driven it to town 3 times, which is about 15 miles in and back, without any problems. I'll have to try what you said. Someone had told me to try jacking up the front, and I did that, but maybe I didn't do it long enough. So here goes another try. Well, any other observations? Hopefully this will work. Thanks again Steve!

[68speedalert]

No Prob..I see you are in Jeff City...just a stones throw from here in Washington! This is an amazing site ain't it?


There aren't any bearings in a gm pump; only bushings and they don't make any noise when the wear. If the noise doesn't quit after a while, the new pump could be bad.....I have seen it before.

Steve

[72BlckButy]

Yeah, we're not to far apart, half to maybe get a meet with some other Missouri members. I went out and tried what you suggested, but I don't believe that it helped. So I think that tomorrow I'm going to pull the pump and return it. And it was a remanufactured pump so I hope that nothing else is wrong. I know the steering box is leaking, but other than that everything looks pretty good. So we'll have to see what happens. Thanks Steve!

[chevymad]

One more possibility. Long shot though. Do you have the original type PS lines? I once put a set of "universal" lines on a truck and had nothing but problems. The ends werent bent correctly causing the line to make a tall loop. The loop would then trap air at the top so the system wouldnt bleed correctly. After trying for hours to get the thing to bleed, I finally talked the parts guy into ordering the correct lines. Installed the next day and had no more problems.

[72BlckButy]

Well, we did buy a new return line, but it was basically the same length as the other one though. I might have to look into that. I'm heading into the parts store to return the new/old pump and get a new one. So I'll have to look at that possibility before I fire the truck up. Thanks!