Steering Pump Shaft

Patrick H · February 3, 2011

It was -5° this morning when I started the truck (01 2500 6.0) and the power steering pump immediately groaned, quite loud, for about 3 seconds, then got quiet. I got in to leave a few minutes later and quickly realized I had no power steering or brake assist. Turns out the pump shaft broke off clean inside. I was able to drive the 6 miles to the shop (work) and replace the pump. Anyone else have this/ heard about this?

txab · February 3, 2011

What a broken pump shaft? Yes I've heard of it. It happens. Can be caused by different situations. I'd make sure I was using synthetic fluid in it from now on.

bluArrow · February 3, 2011

How many miles on the truck? How often was the power steering fluid changed and what fluid was used?

When you say the drive shaft broke inside would that be at the point where it entered the rotor?

pm26 · February 3, 2011

Anybody know of a high quality aftermarket power steering pump that fits 5.3 liter V8 engines in these trucks? Personally, I do not think that OEM pumps are good quality units. Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

bluArrow · February 3, 2011

The best quality pump is the OEM pump. The rejects are sold to the aftermarket. Depending on the year of your truck the current pump (meaning this morning's production) may be a better pump.

ChevyTech77 · February 3, 2011

It was -5° this morning when I started the truck (01 2500 6.0) and the power steering pump immediately groaned, quite loud, for about 3 seconds, then got quiet. I got in to leave a few minutes later and quickly realized I had no power steering or brake assist. Turns out the pump shaft broke off clean inside. I was able to drive the 6 miles to the shop (work) and replace the pump. Anyone else have this/ heard about this?

Yes, it was quite an issue, back in the day. There was a recall on it for certain year trucks for the same issue.

Anybody know of a high quality aftermarket power steering pump that fits 5.3 liter V8 engines in these trucks? Personally, I do not think that OEM pumps are good quality units. Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

Yours needs synthetic fluid. There is a TSB for it. Just flush the system with a good quality synthetic P/S fluid like Amsoil and it will be fine.

The best quality pump is the OEM pump. The rejects are sold to the aftermarket. Depending on the year of your truck the current pump (meaning this morning's production) may be a better pump.

X2

bluArrow · February 3, 2011

Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

Every pump that ships from the pump manufacturing plant is perfect and has passed two separate noise tests. Any pump that fails either test is sold to the aftermarket which means it will not be a production pump or dealer service pump.

jro909 · February 3, 2011

It was -5° this morning when I started the truck (01 2500 6.0) and the power steering pump immediately groaned, quite loud, for about 3 seconds, then got quiet. I got in to leave a few minutes later and quickly realized I had no power steering or brake assist. Turns out the pump shaft broke off clean inside. I was able to drive the 6 miles to the shop (work) and replace the pump. Anyone else have this/ heard about this?

Yes, it was quite an issue, back in the day. There was a recall on it for certain year trucks for the same issue.

Anybody know of a high quality aftermarket power steering pump that fits 5.3 liter V8 engines in these trucks? Personally, I do not think that OEM pumps are good quality units. Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

Yours needs synthetic fluid. There is a TSB for it. Just flush the system with a good quality synthetic P/S fluid like Amsoil and it will be fine.

The best quality pump is the OEM pump. The rejects are sold to the aftermarket. Depending on the year of your truck the current pump (meaning this morning's production) may be a better pump.

X2

when did gm start putting synthetic in the power steering pumps?

ChevyTech77 · February 3, 2011

when did gm start putting synthetic in the power steering pumps?

Where did I say that?

I said that there should be a TSB for his truck, for the whine noise, to flush it with synthetic.

pm26 · February 3, 2011

The best quality pump is the OEM pump. The rejects are sold to the aftermarket. Depending on the year of your truck the current pump (meaning this morning's production) may be a better pump.

That may be the case in my '99 Mazda 626 with the original power steering pump and fluid performing flawlessly and without any noise for the last 284,000 miles.

The pump in my truck has been a POS since the 2,000 miles mark.

dlewis1111 · February 3, 2011

when did gm start putting synthetic in the power steering pumps?

Where did I say that?

I said that there should be a TSB for his truck, for the whine noise, to flush it with synthetic.

QUOTE (pm26 @ Feb 3 2011, 10:26 AM) *

Anybody know of a high quality aftermarket power steering pump that fits 5.3 liter V8 engines in these trucks? Personally, I do not think that OEM pumps are good quality units. Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

Yours needs synthetic fluid. There is a TSB for it. Just flush the system with a good quality synthetic P/S fluid like Amsoil and it will be fine.

You actually said that there was a TSB for this above which is what was being asked about. Should we use syn fluid in the 900's as well?

Patrick H · February 3, 2011

How many miles on the truck? How often was the power steering fluid changed and what fluid was used?

When you say the drive shaft broke inside would that be at the point where it entered the rotor?

97K, I bought it @ 90K and flushed the P/S shortly after, but didn't use synthetic. It broke right at the impeller.

ChevyTech77 · February 4, 2011

when did gm start putting synthetic in the power steering pumps?

Where did I say that?

I said that there should be a TSB for his truck, for the whine noise, to flush it with synthetic.

QUOTE (pm26 @ Feb 3 2011, 10:26 AM) *

Anybody know of a high quality aftermarket power steering pump that fits 5.3 liter V8 engines in these trucks? Personally, I do not think that OEM pumps are good quality units. Mine makes whining noise at low RPMs now and then.

Yours needs synthetic fluid. There is a TSB for it. Just flush the system with a good quality synthetic P/S fluid like Amsoil and it will be fine.

You actually said that there was a TSB for this above which is what was being asked about. Should we use syn fluid in the 900's as well?

Correct, I said there was a TSB for flushing with synthetic not that they had synthetic in them from the factory.

I wouldn't worry about putting the GM Cold Climate or synthetic in it unless you're seeing issues with really stiff steering or noise in really cold weather. My '98 has regular power steering fluid in it, with all factory installed power

steering components, with 195,000+ miles without issue. Sure, it honks a bit when you first start it in really cold

weather but that's it. I've been meaning to flush it with GM Cold Climate fluid but you know how it goes, the tech's

own personal vehicles are the last to get worked on.......

Patrick H · February 5, 2011

I went ahead and flushed the (brand new) fluid out today with some Lucas synthetic. This new (reman) pump is a bit noisy, just like the old one before the shaft broke. It's maybe a bit quieter with the synthetic, but I'm still worried people are going to think there's a 70's-80's-90's Ford coming down the road.

I checked the "GM" bleeding procedure on Shopkey using a Mityvac and made a cap to do this on mine, but with no change. I don't understand why these make noise, as they appear to be just a basic Saginaw pump, which are normally pretty quiet..

jvgough · February 5, 2011

after all this snow i went out for a ride in my '97 chevy tahoe, got stuck, and then after i wiggled myself out i noticed the power steering wasn't working. we got it fixed, and i just picked it up. the guy said that the PS rod or shaft had broken off from forcing the wheel to turn against the weight of the snow. there was almost 2 feet on the road at that point