you are feeling the pump surge, very common (my car does it and I'm too lazy to fix it since it has almost 300k on it)

 

Mine just started doing this in the past week. I notice my on slight curves and some bumpy straight aways. I haven't gotten a chance to check the fluid level, which I am summing is the issue. Its ever so slight...

 

I started this thread a year or so ago and have never really got it fixed. I flushed the PS fluid and it didn't really help much. I took it to the deal and the first thing they wanted to do was to replace the entire rack. They said it was the O-rings in the rack. I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much when I didn't really buy into it. Maybe it is the rack. If it is, I'm going to do it myself.

I've done some reading and I can't really find much more on this. I hate to pay for a rack and install it only to find out that didn't fix it. Some are saying its the universal joint on the intermediate shaft, however I think that is only for steering that get hard and easy. This is normal (easy) and then gets really easy while holding the steering wheel at one position. It doesn't seem like a bind or anything.

I've read in some other vehicles it can be a speed sensor detecting the wrong speed and varying the amount of assist. This seems more like a variable amount of assist.

Any more ideas? I'm letting my 16-year old drive it and I want it to be safe.

 

Mine has been fine now ever since installing the filter and its had a lot of miles since then.
There should not be a steering sensor in our trucks so O-rings is the best bet.
The rack was easy to change and pretty inexpensive aftermarket.

 

So you replaced the rack and that took care of it? I think I'm going to go that route and I was also thinking about just getting the rebuild kit for the rack, it's only about $40 for the O-rings and seals. I don't know if one needs any special tools to do this though. I can do just about anything, but I like most, I can't do everything without the right tools.

 

My problem was a bunch of shavings in the system from the Cummins PS pump that I originally used. After it ground itself up I flushed the system, installed a new Dakota PS pump and a new rack. The problem came back, must have still been some crap in the system. I installed the filter and the problem went away for a while.
Then on a road trip it started to happen again.
In desperation and hundreds of miles from home I bought one of those "mechanic in a bottle" quick fixes.
Lucas power steering repair.
Its basically thick gooey slime (viscosity index enhancer) that you pour into the pump.
That was over a year ago and the problem has never come back.
I don't recommend this sort of product as its obviously just masking the underlying problem and usually does not last long but it did work for me.

 

So the story continues.
Two days ago the steering started to get noisy and have stiff spots.
I thought I was in for another pump and rack but it turned out to just be the O ring between the pump and reservoir. The O ring was allowing air into the system which foamed up the oil and caused the noise and hard steering.
Cheap fix for once.

 

EVguy,
How difficult was it to replace the o-rings?
Do you have a picture of the where the o-rings are located?
Any tips or procedure to do the repair?

Thanks

 

Its just one O ring between the pump and the reservoir.
Unfortunately in order to remove the reservoir from the pump you have to pull the pulley off the pump which needs a special puller.

 

Thanks for the info EVguy.

I'll look to see what options I have for this tool.
Cheers