Lack of Power Assist when turning left

scZ71 · September 26, 2005

Hello, "Actually to the right... not left as stated in title..."

Vehicle: 2000 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 4x4 5.3L Auto,

Owned since new with currently about 97,000 miles.

It is very hard to turn right at very slow speed such as turning into a driveway or when backing up. It's also almost impossible to turn right while vehicle is sitting still till you start to excelerate then you can gradually turn to the right. Turning to the Left is Never an issue. ( I know... I thought about making it a NASCAR race truck...) Here is a list of symptoms:

Tests while in park, wheels on ground

- At idle and with engine reving upto 4000 RPM, cannot turn right.

- While attempting to turn right sounds like power steering pump whine (working hard) (like when you turn all the way to lock when the steering bottoms out.)

- Turns to the left with no problem.

Test with front tires off ground

- Checked front ball joints with crow bar under tire and lifting - no play in ball joints.

- pulled on all tie rods for loose ball joints - none

- Unlocked steering column and by placing both hands on tire moved the tire through all steering movement, both directions are equally easy and no play found.

- With engine at idle could steer with steering wheel in both directions with equal ease.

- Lowered front to the gound and could not turn steering wheel to the right without extreme pulling effort.

I have replaced the power steering pump with a rebuilt unit and issue did not change. also the front steering has been greased every 5k-10k miles. Steering fluid not replaced till just recently when I replaced the power steering pump.

I figure my other 2 options are:

1. The steering gear box at $400.00

2. The hoses between the pump and steering gear box at $120.00 (a dealer parts counter employee told me they have never replaced the hoses)

I have noticed when turning right into the driveway it turns hard then for a breif moment easy followed by hard again. This is the first problem that I have had with this truck.

Any thoughts on what this steering issue may be would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Wally

Macomb, MI

Mark_in_Tulsa · September 26, 2005

The steering gear box at $400.00, is that the Dealer price for a new one installed? or just the part?

scZ71 · September 26, 2005

The steering gear box at $400.00, is that the Dealer price for a new one installed? or just the part?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The dealer price.. $373.00 to be exact and that's just the part. Local autoparts store can get rebuilt unit for $253.00 which is the one I would probably go with.

GM-Tech · September 26, 2005

This definitely sounds like the spool valve in the gear box. No way a pump would only affect steering in one direction, but I guess you found that out.

Gear boxes used to be repairable. In other words, you could buy the spool valve and replace it. Many newer gear boxes do not have serviceable parts... or at least that GM sells. You might be able to get them through the aftermarket.

Then again, by the time you get though with the parts cost and the labor to install it, which would be more than just replacing the gear assembly, you might be better off just going with a complete gear.

scZ71 · September 27, 2005

Thanks GM-Tech,

You confirmed my thoughts, I was hoping there might be something simple that I was missing. I'm going to pursue changing out the gear box and will post here the outcome.

Thanks again,

Wally

steve summers · October 2, 2005

Sorry to jump in on this thread but I have a similar issue. 2001 Yukon XL 5.3L, pulling out of a parking place today and suddenly the steering effort was incredible, almost like the power steering was fighting the turning of the wheel. I shut the motor off and the effort was the same. I checked the belt and fluid level, all OK. I was about 60 miles from home and made the decision to drive it home, in a straight line it was fine, but any attempt to turn was as if the power was against me, I could force it but it took alot of effort, more so it seemed than if just the pump was out. My thought was something in the gear box as well as I would expect the PS pump going out to be similar to a car with manual steering, harder that PS but not as tough as this thing was.

GM-Tech · October 2, 2005

If it's hard to turn in both directions, I'd be looking for a broken shaft on the pump. Fairly common. I seem to remember some sort of recall or special policy on the pump for that problem, but maybe not your model year. Not sure.

The shaft breaks where it attaches to the rotor inside the pump. So externally, all looks normal but the shaft isn't turning anything. This is easy to diagnose. Take the belt off and pull on the pump pulley. It'll come right out of the pump with the remains of the shaft still attached to it.

GM-Tech · October 2, 2005

I just looked it up. It's the 2000 model year that this power steering pump recall affects. But we've seen that on more than just the 2000 trucks.

steve summers · October 3, 2005

I just looked it up. It's the 2000 model year that this power steering pump recall affects. But we've seen that on more than just the 2000 trucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is exactly what it was, the shaft was just sheared off.

Any helpful hints on getting it all back together with the new pump?

steve summers · October 4, 2005

I just looked it up. It's the 2000 model year that this power steering pump recall affects. But we've seen that on more than just the 2000 trucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is exactly what it was, the shaft was just sheared off.

Any helpful hints on getting it all back together with the new pump?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, I've been fighting this thing, the pulley is a PITA to get back on with the supplied bolt/nut arrangement. I am headed today to buy the GM pulley removal/installation kit I'm hoping this makes it easier to get on.

scZ71 · October 4, 2005

I just looked it up. It's the 2000 model year that this power steering pump recall affects. But we've seen that on more than just the 2000 trucks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is exactly what it was, the shaft was just sheared off.

Any helpful hints on getting it all back together with the new pump?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK, I've been fighting this thing, the pulley is a PITA to get back on with the supplied bolt/nut arrangement. I am headed today to buy the GM pulley removal/installation kit I'm hoping this makes it easier to get on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I put a film of power steering fluid on the pump shaft before assembly. Take your time, using the supplied bolt and nut with the pump to install the pulley is slow and hard to trun the nut, probably took me 30 minutes to just put on the pulley.

GM-Tech · October 4, 2005

OK, I've been fighting this thing, the pulley is a PITA to get back on with the supplied bolt/nut arrangement. I am headed today to buy the GM pulley removal/installation kit I'm hoping this makes it easier to get on.

The installer we use has a bearing so you're not fighting the friction of a plain ol' nut against a washer when trying to get the pulley on.

steve summers · October 4, 2005

I bought the cheapo set from Harbor Freight and used the impact on it, worked like a champ. Thanks for the advice!

steve summers · October 6, 2005

The saga continues. Got the pump re-installed tonight filled it with fluid and fired the Yukon up. The battery had been disconnected for several days, it took the engine awhile to settle in and idle smoothly. I turned the wheels and still no power, jacked up the front end did several lock to lock turns with the engine running to clear any air and still no power. Decided to take it for a drive, checked the fluid first and it was dark which indicated to me at least the fluid was moving. Noticed that when I drove it that the power steering started working when I was running the motor above 3000 RPM's below 3000 there is no power. Also noticed that the pump is making a significant whine in the upper RPM range. I'm thinking I've got a bad pump from the parts store, or that I may have damaged the pump in my efforts to get the pulley on without the right tool, any other thoughts?