So I was just running around town this evening to pick some stuff up. When I get home I park the my 98 ram 1500 then realize I needed to get one more thing, I go to the truck start it up reverse on to the driveway and my truck makes a squealing noise and stalls. Once I start it up I have no power steering, nothing is leaking, nothing is hanging off and the power steering fluid is fine.

Anyone got any idea, I'm guessing the power steering pump but if anyone knows or has a 2 cent it would be much appreciated.

 

Mine did sort of the same thing about a month or so ago except mine made a loud pop and then I lost all steering, not just power steering that sent me into on coming traffic. After what felt like pulling every muscle in my arms I finally got it to turn so I took it back to work because I had just had the service guys replace a lot of other steering parts and it turned out to be my power steering pump like you suggest. I'm not sure if there is a way to test and see. Maybe someone else will chime in and know more than I do. Good luck.

 

We did have a problem with the power steering pump shafts that would snap at the pump. There wasn't any leaks when they broke. Remove the fan belt and pull on the pulley. If the shaft is broken, you would be able to pull the pulley and shaft out of the pump. Then you would have a leak.

 

I kept blowing pumps on my 02 5.9 until it flat locked up and shattered the pulley. When I went to replace the pulky I had to go to the dealer. They had changed the size of the center shat because they kept overheating and blowing seals or breaking the shaft. Dont know if the aftermarket world has caught up yet but if you have an original, I'd check to see if they've updated yours.

 

Found out it was the shaft snapped and came off with the pully. The belt held it on tight enough not to move. Had to get a shop to remove the pully and put it on the new pump, for some reason it's pressed on but for 30 bucks straight it's hard to complain.

Either way thanks to everyone giving thee thoughts and troubleshooting.