So I just purchased a 1990 W150 5.2L 4x4 knowing the steering was tough. First impression was the PS pump was out. It's incredibly difficult to turn accompanied with a slight clicking noise (which sounds like it's coming from the steering gearbox or pump) while turning the wheel... Once you get going it's a lot easier to turn the wheel, but not great also I don't hear the clicking over the engine. I have 315/75/16 Dunlop Fierce Attitudes with a 5" lift which i'm sure isn't helping the matters. I'm replacing the pump this Thursday hopefully, and wanted to get some opinions on wheter this is the right move.. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

have you check the fluid? it sound similar to what my dad described happened to his truck when he put gear oil in the power steering. the steering was a lot stiffer until things got warmed up and moving. if you plan on replacing the pump you may want to look at the hoses and consider replacing them if they are rusted. someone might have put gear oil in to try stopping a leak. i know i run motor oil in mine because it is cheaper and a bit thicker than power steering fluid and i got a slow leak.

 

Yeah the fluid is a dark blackish/purplish color (transmission fluid maybe?), it's filled all the way to the cold line (when engine is cool). Haven't checked it when it is warmed up. It's not super thick so I'm pretty confident any leaks would show. The lines don't look that bad and I hadn't planned on replacing them but might do it anyways since you mentioned it. Is there any way to test the PS pump directly? I will say I've driven old trucks with manual steering and it feels very similar to that.

 

Oh and the fluid smells burnt!

 

75W90 or other gear oils that are similar don't seem to much thicker when looking at them but the moving parts know better.

 

So should I do a flush before I replace it?

 

it might be a good idea. new parts new fluid. i know on my truck if i try turning the steering with the truck off it can cause the old fluid in the lines to be forced back into into the pump which may cause it to continue to have problems if the fluid caused them.

 

Ok so I just took it out for a quick drive and when I turn the wheel when not moving I hear loud popping... Could it just be my gearbox is bad? I inspected for leaks on the box and on all hoses and pump and there are none... Resevoir is still full...

 

With a 5" lift I would pay attention to the coupling where the steering shaft meets the steering box. To isolate the noise you can use a big screw driver or a metal rod as a stethoscope while someone else turns the steering wheel.

 

So I found one issue, not sure it's going to solve everything... So I had the hood popped and was turning the shaft to test the gearbox responsiveness, and I noticed a squeak that you can't hear unless the hood is popped... I couldn't tell where it was coming from while under the truck (def wasn't the gearbox) so I turned the wheel in the cab and tied a bandana to the wheel and door so the squeak was continuous (don't have a second person right now)... I looked at power steering pump and the damn belt is loose... it does fine at idle but when you turn the wheel the pulley skips along the belt... question is will replacing the belt fix the issue?