Hello, folks. New to the forums, but I'd consider myself average in the garage. My dad knows WAY more than I do, though.

99 Ram 1500 - After installing a junkyard steering box after hitting a pole, it works fine as a driver all winter. When I haul my trailer with a car in it during racing season (OD off so 55 MPH is 2200 RPM - seems like high RPMs is the only difference as far as the steering) 15 miles down the road it makes loud, grinding noises when turning and all the way to the track (an hour drive). A few days before, I sucked every drop out of the power steering reservoir with a plunger and skinny hose and refilled it with new fluid, because this has happened all last year. It also gets discolored and white and sometimes the level goes down and it gets very hard to turn, but again this is only when I haul my car. When I'm just driving it, it's a cherry. Should I just bite the bullet and buy a new steering box? Or is it some sort of pump that's broken somewhere? I'm nervous hauling my car with all that weight not knowing what's going on. Thank you for any help you can provide.

TL;DR: Drives fine except when I haul a car and trailer (OD off) the steering grinds, is loud, and becomes difficult.

 

I would say your power steering pump sounds like it's on its way out. Just pick up a new one at your NAPA dealer.

 

+1 can you hear the power steering pump making any whining sounds?

 

Thanks guys! Yeah, the noise that happens the most is a really high pitched whining like you said and almost a weak grinding type noise (similar to when you turn the wheel left or right to the max). If I let go of the wheel, it simmers down, but in action it likes to make those noises.

Any reason why it doesn't happen during normal driving but does when hauling? The higher RPMs from turning OD off speeds the pump up, which makes it "work harder" in a way, am I correct?