I am replacing another power steering pump/reservoir for the 4th time

2003 1500 107,000 miles

Can some of you guys that are around here a lot summarize whats known about the power steering on these things?

Man this is killing me

 

read this

 

yep, seems it's easy to ***** one up during install. These trucks DO NOT have a track record of eating PS pumps, but when one does go, you really got to make sure the replacement is installed correctly...

 

What Hammer said sounds about right, its a very precise install, it has to be on just right, or the smallest amount off could shorten the life of a power steering pump in half or even less. I made the mistake on my old pickup once and ruined a brand new power steering pump, and found out after that how to install one correct.

 

Wow.

So you guys recommend that I do this with a dealer because 3rd parties are fin up the pullies?

 

Just get a pump thats already in one piece. Thats the easiest route.

 

But if the rack has contaminants in it that are causing pump failure....???? You should always flush the rack when installing a new pump. I dunno why nobody ever does it? I would flush your rack at 110kmi regardless.

 

My pump started making a growling noise near the 115K mark, it would surge when I was turning and such. I flushed the system out with fresh fluid and within a few days, all was back to original operation. The fluid that came out was really nasty and smelled burned too. Make sure you do a good flush, to remove contaminents, and keep an eye on the level for a few days after you get it going again. It took mine a while to work all the air out of the system.

 

just bite the bullet and go to the dealer get it all at one time with the pulley and save a lot of headaches 5 ps pumps in a year

 

X 3 on the flush and so simple to do. When I did mine. I used a long straight edge to make certain the pully was lined up with the others.