Wsup all, newb to the forum. I have been browsing for a month or so and decided to take the plunge... Unfortunately my first post is Q. that I desperately need some help answering. I have a 1997 Dakota 2WD, 5.2L V8, auto tranny and approx. 130K

My Power Steering IS working, but not well. When the truck is on but not moving, the steering wheel is difficult to turn in either direction (like I said, I do have SOME assistance form the PS). When the truck is moving and my foot is on the gas (even at a slow roll) the steering still has some resistance, but over all a lot easier to turn the wheel and maneuver. However, it's still not working correctly. My friend/mechanic and I started with replacing the PS pump, a good flush and fluid change, after all.... It's exactly the same. But this was interesting to me. After we replaced the old pump, we filled the new pump with fluid and it only took approx. 1/2 a quart. When we fired the truck up, it did not make that horrible sound like it was starving for fluid. We proceeded to bleed the PS system with the truck on and the PS pump cap off. After about 2 min of turning the wheel back and fourth It did not want to accept any more fluid. So I looked in pump while my buddy was turning the wheel again and the fluid in the pump does not look like it's circulating very well. Is this normal? Or could this be a symptom of something else wrong? Anyway, I'm stumped...

Is there anything we could be over looking or that we should double check before we go ahead and change the rack? Any advise would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

 

Anyone????

 

It could very well be there is internal leakage in the gear.

Perhaps a clogged line (kind of hard to believe, because PS is high pressure). Flow should be 1-2 or 2-3 gallons per minute.

 

you could try puttin a smaller power steering pulley on it, because if it get's stronger as the engine rev's up it could be that the pump isn't spinning enough, but i would try changing out the fluid first

 

change the rack. there wouldn't be any blockage because like dodgerules said it is such high pressure. and dont mess around with putting a smaller pulley on it. thats a waste of your time. if it is designed to work one way and it isnt, then there is a problem that needs to be fixed. you could try and pull away one of the bellows where the inner tie-rod connects to the rack and if there is fluid in there then you have a leaking seal and the rack needs to be replaced. it could be the walls got scored where the rotary valve and spool valve are. but because they arnt repairable id just replace it.