Power Steering Noise- Diagnosis?

[massacre]

Hello,

Feel like it’s one step forward 2 steps back with this truck sometimes. Haha

I recently replaced P/S pump, steering gear and lines in my 94. Lines new, pump and steering gear are reman.
My front axle shaft u joints were seizing up slowly over time, so that the P/S system was working way harder than it should have.
Now that I have fixed the axle shafts (and many other things), the P/S pump is whining louder than I am comfortable with. I can live with slight whine sometimes but this is pretty loud most of the time.
Also I just relpaced the whole front suspension and fixed rattling doors so now the pump sounds even louder.

My question is-

How do I determine whether the pump is loud because the steering gear is damaged, or whether the pump is loud because the pump is damaged?
Or am I just better off replacing them both?
I am so close to having this truck in good and worry free condition for the winter season.
This sure is a kick in the balls but lesson learned definitely.

Thanks for any advice. I just had an alignment done and the steering is just a little sticky, which is pointing toward steering gear, but the pump is real loud so maybe it’s both.
Just wondering if there is any way to isolate the steering box or the pump to see if one of them is actually fine?

Thanks and have a nice day!

 

[roscoe 0202]

agr can supply you with a kit to install a gm power steering pump if is just the Thompson pump whine this will fix it they also have rebuilt steering boxes with all the upgrades then a little cutting on the mount bracket for the pump and you are home free if you do it right the ac compressor will still have four bolts holding it on

roscoe

 

[Roadrunner777]

You used the right fluid, right? Here's a thread:

Type F ATF or Power steering fluid?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Add Lucas or Prestone for p/s to condition the seals.

 

[massacre]

You used the right fluid, right? Here's a thread:

Type F ATF or Power steering fluid?

Yes Sir I did.
I read that thread beforehand.
My u joints were so frozen that I had to use a sledge hammer to rotate the knuckles enough to remove the lower balljoint nuts. I’m going to replace both units.
I know it sucks and it’s an expensive lesson to learn but I know how this usually goes- on the coldest snowiest day of the year when I need it the most, the P/S system will take a crap on me and I will end up having to replace it anyways.
At least I can do this before the snow flies and save the hassle.
Other than this issue, I only have exhaust rattle (sounds like heat shield) and rattling door panels left to deal with. Then the truck should be in pretty good shape.

 

[massacre]

Replaced steering box today, pump was super noisy before but after replacing the box the pump will quiet down when hot. Wanted to replace the pump at the same time but Summit was back ordered. So when the pump gets here i’ll do that which should finally take care of my power steering problems.
I def think the system was getting overworked and damaged the steering box. Big difference but pump is obviously not healthy either.

 

[massacre]

Replaced PS pump yesterday, went fairly well. Pump is a lot quieter now and truck drives great. Expensive lesson to learn wow