Which Steering Component Is Bad?

mmastera · February 12, 2008

I have a '99 Silverado NBS 1500 with the 5.3 V8 which I've had since new. Since I've had it I've had to put in a new power steering pump at least 3 times, maybe 4...can't remember. First time was my fault...while camping I had the wheel cranked and accelerated hard. Except for that first time I feel like I shouldn't be going through pumps like this.

So the power steering isn't working again but I don't want to sink money and time into another pump if that's not the problem. When I first start up in the morning I have power steering. I can make it to the end of the street before it's gone - after that I can steer fine at speed but when slow or from a stop I've got nothing...if I'm starting when the truck is already warm I don't have any power steering at all. Could be my imagination but I also think it gets harder to steer the hotter the truck is...

Fluid level is fine, belt is good, etc...Just for kicks I pumped some of the fluid out of the resevoir into a clear plastic container to check the color and it was dark reddish brown. I'm not a mechanic so I may have been wasting my time but I pumped the fluid out, filled it up, started the truck and turned stop to stop a few times and did that over and over again until the fluid started to look more like the fluid out of the bottle. I figured it was worth a few bottles of fluid to try it but unfortunately it didn't fix anything.

So here's my question, how can I tell if I have a bad steering rack or if it's the pump. I've also read about an EVO which I'm not sure if I even have or if that could be a factor. Is there a filter of some kind for the pump that could be clogged? Does it make any sense that it seems to work for just a little bit when starting from cold but when hot I get nothing?

Some additional details:

- 146,000 miles

- Factory size tires

- Fluid did smell a bit burnt if I remember correctly

- Pump makes noise at various times (either clicking, moaning or groaning)

I really appreciate the help this forum has given me in the past and I'm looking forward to any responses...

Thanks,

mmastera

Draenor · February 12, 2008

Were the lines correctly installed? Out to out in to in. I dont know if GM started this in your year/model, but the PS runs thru a cooler, like a trans cooler. It may not be getting enough adaquate air flow to keep the pump within operating temp. Or it could be partially clogged.

*edit* Are you getting all the air out of the system? And where are you buying these pumps?

mmastera · February 12, 2008

Here are some answers:

- I don't think I have In and Out mixed up but I'll definately check

- I don't think I have a PS cooler. I do have a tranny cooler in front of the radiator that came with the tow package

- Any way to check if something is clogged?

- I think I'm getting the air out, I turn stop to stop a bunch of times, etc..is there another way I should try?

- Not sure where the previous pumps came from but the one I have now that I haven't installed yet came from Advance Auto.

You've got me worried that there could be a clog or something...is a PS flush at a shop worth anyhthing?

Thanks

Norseman · February 12, 2008

- Not sure where the previous pumps came from but the one I have now that I haven't installed yet came from Advance Auto.

Take the one from Advance back and pick a NEW (not rebuilt) one up from CarQuest or NAPA, they generally carry higher quality parts then do places like Advance or AutoZone.