Power steering noise

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east302

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This is on my 98 Tahoe. I had a leaking power steering pump and gear, so replaced both of those along with the power steering hoses and steering linkage (idler arm, bracket, tie rods, pitman arm). I had no issues with power steering assist, it just leaked.

It now has very little power assist at idle. Rev it up and it’s much better. I put my old power steering pump (with EVO) back on and it was no better, so I figured it had to be a bum steering gear. It had perfect assist before all of this was replaced.

So I put the new power steering pump (Delco reman with EVO bypass) back on and core returned the original. I then warrantied the steering gear twice, so I’m on my third one. It cannot be the steering gear.

With the wheels in the air, it’s not bad. Nothing binds and you can turn it lock to lock with one finger. There are no bubbles.

With one wheel on the ground, steering assist is roughly halved.

With the wheels on the ground, I get a howl as soon as the wheel is turned. It sounds like what you get when you hit the lock stops and the relief valve opens. The fluid has some little bubbles at that point— not quite like beer foam but close.

Here’s a video of the noise.

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Could this be a bad pump or maybe a bad (restricted) hose since it works when revs are increased? I never swapped my old hoses back on to test it because I didn’t want to contaminate the system.





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east302

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I put the front on jack stands and cycled the wheel with ignition on/engine off. I topped it off to “cold” level as it dropped. I probably cycled it ten times until no bubbles appeared and the level stabilized.

I started it and ran it for about three seconds, then topped it off. Cycled the steering wheel again (ignition on/engine off) about five times. There were no bubbles.

Then I started it and let it run, cycled it probably 20 times. I could turn it with one finger.

I put it on the ground and can barely turn the wheel without bringing it above idle.


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east302

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It was the pump. I couldn’t get the fitting off to look at it, but would guess that some a-hole either didn’t install the bypass/relief valve or put it in backwards, messed up the spring or o-ring or something.

Best guess is that it was sticking, sending the majority of flow back to suction instead of the gearbox.

And that was a Delco “professional” reman because I try to avoid buying crap. A pump from Oreillys seems to be working. Figures.




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someotherguy

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Rebuilt pumps are hit or miss regardless of which brand you pick. You may go through several before you get a good one. They've actually been unpredictable for quite some time.

Your bleed procedure needs an upgrade, though. You don't want to turn the wheel at all until you've got as much air as possible out of the system. This means fill it up, start it, let it run a moment then shut it off. Add fluid and repeat as needed. Only when it continues to show full do you actually start turning the wheel and continue to check the level. Essentially, steps 1 through 4 of the following from the GM factory service manual:

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east302

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Good to know, thanks for passing it on, I appreciate it!


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