Power steering pump or rack problem?

[DasFrem]

So my white truck's power steering has been giving me problems as of late. When driving streight for a while it sometimes becomes a bit tough to turn the wheel at first. What's annoying is that it's impossible to recreate, it just happens when you're not expecting, almost like a loss of power steering for a second. I can run a ton of circles in a parking lot throwing the wheel all around and it'll be fine, but in a streight line after a while it can be tough to turn at first. I've flushed the fluid and jacked the truck up in the front and turned the wheel back and forth lock to lock to work any air bubbles out, but it still does it. Any suggestions? I have a spare steering rack, so that would be a nice solution, but if that's probally not the culprit I'd rather not go through the hassle of replacing it. Thanks guys.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Sounds like the rack. I had to have that replaced at appx 100K mi. on the X. There is a addative made for racks that sometimes cures it. I cant remember the name but most any auto parts store should have something. At least try the easy fix first.

 

[DasFrem]

I'll have to take a trip over to wally world to have a check, thanks.

 

[JoshC]

Might be a rack Matt, but i'll tell you a problem i had. I replaced my rack twice and my PS pump twice and it still didn't fix it! It was the little tiny u joint in the steering shaft. It has a boot over it, but it was busted open letting the elements get in it, ex. dirt, mud, water. I just had to take the shaft off every few mouths and gease the u joint really good. But it was a pain to find the problem, might be worth a look.

 

[Tat2dExploder]

mine is really bad right now its sticking a lot and it has a couple bad tough spots... i just bought that additive today, hopefully it will work for a bit... in the meantime i'm lookin for a rack if anyone knows of one...

i'll let ya know if that additive helped at all tomorrow

 

[Sonny]

I am not much on additives, but my PS had some tight spots and noise at times. I put in a bottle of Lucas PS conditioner and I am impressed. I have had no trouble since.

 

[Tat2dExploder]

thats the exact stuff i bought... specificly for rack and pinion

 

[JoshC]

I've got a rack in the garage that is about a year old if someone needs one.

 

[Tat2dExploder]

I DO I DO badlyyyyy

 

[Tat2dExploder]

btw the additive did nothing for me

 

[DasFrem]

Josh, I had the same problem you had on my black truck, but luckaly I replaced that piece first (I bougtht the rack with the cv joing thiggy so I replaced the easy part first). But this symptom is different because with the bad cv it would stick in a couple of spots, this just is a bit tough when you first start to turn it no matter what point the steering wheel's at. I'll have to try the lucas stuff. I was looking for something like that at Wal-Mart today but they didn't have any, I'll try Autozone tomorrow.

 

[Sonny]

Originally posted by Tat2dExploder
btw the additive did nothing for me

Well how many miles did you drive in 12 hours. Mine took about 300 miles over a weeks time before I noticed any improvement. Its not magic.

 

[JoshC]

Originally posted by Tat2dExploder
I DO I DO badlyyyyy

If you want it, shoot me an email or PM.

 

[JoshC]

Originally posted by DasFrem
Josh, I had the same problem you had on my black truck, but luckaly I replaced that piece first (I bougtht the rack with the cv joing thiggy so I replaced the easy part first).

You're the first person i've seen (besides me) that has had that problem. That was frustrating for me.