Need Help With Power Steering

Maximus98 · June 27, 2011

Hi, I have a 1998 K1500 Z71 with the 5.7L, Auto, 162,000 miles and it does have the EVO variable power assist. I'll give you the back story on how the pump went out.

Here is my issue. I was pulling a trailer on Friday and had a catastrophic failure of the power steering pump. The pump had been hissing in the week or two before if the truck was just idling but the minute I would turn the wheel slightly or accelerate it went away. On Friday I was climbing up a grade at about 65 mph, the truck downshifted and about 30 seconds later I had smoke pouring out from under the truck and hit the next off-ramp with no power steering. Pulled over and popped the hood and there was power steering fluid EVERYWHERE and all down the side of the truck. The pressure hose had failed right at the steel/rubber hose transition coming out of the pump. I drove the truck slowly and without the trailer about 30 min later to my apartment a mile up the road and the pump was wining bad. Figured out the pump was shot with a very loose pulley shaft and that it had gotten so hot, it melted the dip stick on the reservoir cap down to nothing.

I replaced the pump and the pressure line put it all back together (plugged the sensor back in) and filled it with fluid. I did the wheels off the ground bleeding procedure that someone had told me but I left the cap on. I think after searching on these forums that it was supposed to be off?? How many times should I have to turn the wheel back and forth? I did it approx 6-8 times but with the cap on? I started the truck, no power steering and a little bit of whining from the pump but shut it off quickly. I think I will try bleeding with the cap off tonight.

But if bleeding it right doesn't fix it, could it be possible that the steering gear box was damaged or plugged from the failure of the power steering pump? I keep getting different answers on that one. I had a mechanic friend replace the steering box back in December because the old one had a lot of play. Are there parts that could come flying out of the pump and clog things? The fact that the pressure hose burst is what concerns me...

Maximus98 · June 28, 2011

Well I did the correct bleeding procedure last night and no change. I even loosened the pressure hose at the steering gear box and started the motor for a couple of seconds and the pump is definitely making pressure because fluid shot into the air. I'm thinking the steering gear box is trashed too... Any ideas before I go ripping that thing out?