98 Suburban K1500 4x4 Steering Issue

[wmwtn]

My 1998 GMC Suburban (K1500 4x4) was wandering all over the road. It steered very easily (too easily) in both directions. The steering box was tweaked several times, so no slop there.

 

I later spoke with a friend whose son was a Chevy tech and he smiled and told me if I disconnedted the 2-wire plug from the sensor on rear of power steering pump that my steering would be good again and the SES light would not light up.

 

I disconnected the pump sensor (EOV?) as he recommended, and he was correct - - it now steers great! The only problem is that the computer evidently knows something's amiss, and the cruise control is now turned off. I had leaned earlier that anytime an error code is in the computer the cruise control goes away.

 

So, now that the steering is great again, I sure would like to have cruise control back for the longer trips. I called the Chevy dealer and was told that sensor for the pwr steering pump is NLA, but the steering shaft sensor (in the column) is available for $68-$70.

 

I saw a related post that mentioned changing the steering shaft sensor (in the column) fixed a road wandering problem, and that confuses me, since (I think) the power steering sensor seems to be the culprit in this case. But, could the shaft sensor actually be the culprit and I just stopped the shaft sensor from sending erroneous signals to the pump??

 

Many thanks,

Marty

[95Sierra2500]

1. You went to the dealer to try to find the part. Just go to a junk yard and buy a whole new pump for $50 and swap them out if you think it was that sensor.

2. There's too many sensors on new vehicles. I'll stick to my '95 and older cars and trucks. Might not get the gas mileage, but I don't have to worry about all the sensors.

[97whitez71]

Do a search on here for EVO sensor. I bet that is your problem. Hope this helps.