power steering problems

volfan · February 21, 2005

i have a 99 silverado z71 ext cab with 67k and the power steering is making a groaning sound when you turn the wheels to the right and is very hard to turn like the power steering may be going.i checked the fluid level and it was low so i added some fluid last night and it did not help.but the groaning sound doesnt seem to be there when you turn to the left but the steering still isa little hard but nothing like turning to the right.anyone had this problem and how much of a price range for a fix?last week the fuel gauge started acting crazy now this problem this week i just hope thi isnt the biginning of the end.i bought this truck new and evrything is stock done nothing but put tires on and normal preventive maint. so hopefully i wont have to start sinking money into it.

volfan · February 22, 2005

well i will answer my own post.dealer diagnosed the problem and the steering gear is bad..$538 us dollars to fix and it sucks servive manager said he actually saved me some but it still sucks.everything happens AFTER the warranty expires so im wondering whats next.

71GMC_3/4T · February 22, 2005

For $538, I'd be willing to try a power steering conditioner and see if you can loosen whatever is causing it to stick. Try flushing it with clean fluid several times to see if that helps any. My '92 would hang up hard the first time going to the right when it was cold. Usually scared the crap out of me until I got used to it and broke it loose before starting to move. I lived with it for years, but if I were you, I'd try to flush it out before spending that much.