Power Steering Problem

[Black69]

 

When I start my 2004 suburban up in the morning and back out of my driveway, the power steering hangs up when turning to the left. I don't seem to have this problem after I have driven for a while. Fluids are OK and it doesn't seem to do this when turning to the right. Anything that I can check for?

[Black69]

When I start my 2004 suburban up in the morning and back out of my driveway, the power steering hangs up when turning to the left. I don't seem to have this problem after I have driven for a while. Fluids are OK and it doesn't seem to do this when turning to the right. Anything that I can check for?

 

No one else have this problem?

[txab]

In the 80's I had a Buick that did this. It was the rack and pinion. Solution at that time was replacement. Hopefully others will chime in

[Norseman]

When I start my 2004 suburban up in the morning and back out of my driveway, the power steering hangs up when turning to the left. I don't seem to have this problem after I have driven for a while. Fluids are OK and it doesn't seem to do this when turning to the right. Anything that I can check for?

 

 

Flush & Bleed the PS system. It sounds like there might be some crap in there blocking the opperation of valves.

[axel]

I have almost the exact same problem on my 04 Sierra. When I start my truck on these cold winter mornings it takes awhile before I can get the wheel to turn to the right. Turning to the left is fine.

Have you had a chance to flush the system and has that cured the problem? If so, what is the procedure? My Haynes manual doesn't cover this.

[Black69]

I have almost the exact same problem on my 04 Sierra. When I start my truck on these cold winter mornings it takes awhile before I can get the wheel to turn to the right. Turning to the left is fine.

Have you had a chance to flush the system and has that cured the problem? If so, what is the procedure? My Haynes manual doesn't cover this.

 

No, I haven't had a chance to flush the system. I haven't been able to find out yet how to do it. The weather has been cold and I have been stalling, waiting for it to become warmer. After I drive for a while it seems to go away but for the first few minutes of driving it's really hard to turn to the left. It's almost like you have the wheels up against the curb. You turn hard and nothing happens, then it will break loose and turn fine. Also if I rev the engine up a little it seems to go away, but that's hard to do while you are turning and even worse if you are close to another vehicle.

[norsemanberg]

Kinda sounds like there might be some air on the PS system

[mkeeney]

Kinda sounds like there might be some air on the PS system

 

Would a flush and refill correct this? What's the best method for removing the air? I have the same problem as Axel on my '02 Silverado Z71. If the outside temp is below about 45F and the engine is cold, there is no power steering to the right. It's still possible to turn, just no power. It corrects itself within 3-4 minutes. If the temp is above that or the engine is warm, there is never a problem. Also, it never happens turning left under any conditions. Thanks!

[axel]

Spent a good part of the day replacing my power steering pump to see if this would cure the problem. Pump was only about $60.00 from NAPA and I rented the pulley puller from Autozone for a few bucks. Worst part of the job is removing and installing the pulley. And the Haynes manual fails to mention that the alternator/steering pump bracket must be removed for clearance. Best part is many common size bolts and all of them metric. My early '90's Chevy was a real hodgepod of SAE and metric, and each component was held on with about three different size fastener. Should know in the morning if it's fixed. I'll keep you posted.

[axel]

Sorry to say replacing the power streering pump had no effect on the problem. This morning temperature was in the low twentys and it was difficult to turn the wheel to the right. As usual, after a couple attempts it would free itself up and work fine the rest of the day. When it's above about 35 degrees, no problem. The colder it is the harder it is to turn. Perhaps there is a mechanical issue in the steering box or linkage?

[RVJ]

I had my 05 Silverado in the dealers shop several times for the exact same thing and they could not fix it. I could pull myself into the truck by the steering wheel when it was first started in the morning and the wheel would not move. All I had to do to get it to let loose was to move the truck a couple feet and with pressure on the steering wheel it would release and be allright the rest of the day and then do it all over again the next morning. With warranty almost up and them not being able to fix it I got rid of it.

[axel]

My previous vehicle, a '95 Tahoe, had a strange steering problem too. Within about 2 miles from start up the steering wheel would start moving side to side slightly. Like it had a mind of it's own. It would do this for about a quarter mile then feel normal for the rest of the day. I took it to a shop I trusted and they thought it was the p.s. pump. They replaced it and the next day it did the same thing with them. Surprisingly they reinstalled my original pump and didn't charge me for the work. Problem persisted for about a week then went away on it's own and never came back.

[norsemanberg]

If you don't have a rack the best way to get rid of the air is to jack the front of the truck up until the steering gear is about level and then rotate the steering wheel left and right a couple of times with out the engine running, check to see is you have a bunch of bubbles in the PS fluid and wait until all the air is gone, add fluid if needed and repeat with the engine running this time. Just keep going until all the bubbles stop

[Black69]

OK we found the problem. We had to replace the steering gear box. While doing that we replaced the intermediate shaft also. I hope it drives like a new truck. Thanks for all the replies. Dave

[axel]

More info please. How much did it cost? Did you do it yourself? What was involved?