88 C3500 dualie, steering box problems

[Aussie Sandman]

I have an 88, c3500 dualie, that I bought about 4 years ago.

I don't use the truck much, as I only bought it to tow racecar trailer mainly.

 

I keep having problems with the power steering.

When I bought it, it would sometimes fail when turning right. (Could still turn, but no power assist)

I pulled streering box & got it recoed. I did maybe 10,000km's, then it failed again.

It got repaired under warranty, but failed again last Nov.

I rang the place that repaired it, as it had only done less than 2000km's since previous repair. They will check it out again.

 

I hadn't had time to pull it out, and had to go and pick up a car in Feb. I only had to travel about 20km's each way. Box steered fine, until I got where I was going, and had to turn around. Seems like it will work ok until oil is hot and engine is idling. It was OK again driving home mostly, although hard to turn on a couple of tight, slow corners, although, I found if I kept the rpm up slightly, instead of coasting around at an idle, it was OK.

 

I am running dextron 2 oil. I was wondering if it gets too thin when oil is hot.

Would it be better running a synthetic trans oil, or maybe a light synthetic engine oil?

 

 

I have a couple of other ongoing issue's with this truck, but I'll put them in different posts to stop answers getting jumbled.

It's a bit hard getting good info on these in Australia.

Thanks in advance

 

[BoostedMA70]

I had the same issue my c1500. My power steering pump failed and exploded power steering fluid everywhere . I replaced both gearbox and the pump and used ac Delco power steering fluid bleed the system and it has been great ever since. Hope this helps

 

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