power steering pump

[nascar_fan28]

Anyone ever have to change one of these on a 05 superduty? i think thats my problem.. truck is hard to steer, its hard to drive straight, coming home it was hard to keep between the lines... it did this on monday, drove fine home monday night, and drove fine tuesday. now it started acting up again. everything is tight up front. is their a filter that could need changed? or is just signs of pump going out? and it has fluid, no leaks either

 

[DaveBen]

Check your fluid. It may be low and that would cause hard steering. It would make some noise. The other thing that I can think of is dirty fluid. Drain and refill with new PS Fluid.

Dave

 

[nascar_fan28]

thanks dave, it wasnt real low, very dark.. so maybe changing will help. its not like i have total loss in power ..its not making any noises either. i got under and checked it.. wasnt leaking. is their a filter for it?

 

[tomcatin63]

I just posted about serpentine belt tensioner. It's probably unrelated but thats what I thought. If the tensioner spring is weak the belt might not be able to spin the pump under load. And to think of it before my tensioner pulley went my power steering got a little stiff once or twice over the last month. If that belt is slipping you won't necessarily hear it squealing. And it will feel like your powersteering pump has gone out. Maybe it is the pump but take off the serpentine belt first thing and inspect all idler and tensioners real good. Best of luck, Tom

 

[nascar_fan28]

ok, thanks tom. ill give those a check.. would the belt feel loose at all? or can it slip without the belt being that loose

 

[tomcatin63]

Thats my point, you wont really know if you are getting full tension on the serpentine
belt unless you remove it and feel for play on each tensioner,and idler pulleys. I have to fix mine tomorrow morning. I just hope I didnt damage anything when mine broke loose.
Like I said, it could be your pump also, maybe pump got low on oil, or wrong oil, or maybe a faulty pump. But its a 2005 and that dont seem right it should go longer than that. Usually powersteering pumps will chatter before they go out, they can also lock up but then your ganna hear your belt squealing then you are broke down. I tried my best to help you, hope it gave you some insight on your problem. Best of luck, Tom

 

[nascar_fan28]

thanks. appreciate the help. im gonna look at it tomorrow. ill let you guys know

 

[DaveBen]

thanks dave, is their a filter for it?

No filter.

Dave

 

[nascar_fan28]

everything is tight up front. belts are good slight play, no cracks in belt. i added some fluid since it wasnt quite catching dip stick. went test drove, and drove great. went and left shop. 4 miles down road started pulling left, i correct little bit, and it would go right.. had to fight truck for next 2 miles , then i pulled over cranked lock to lock, it did that pretty easy.. like normal, drove rest of way home ok, still felt hard to steer like lose of power. i really dont want to put the new pump i have on, but that might be problem, just weird how it doesnt do this all the time. i do think its getting worse. so might be pump going out. not sure if steering stabilizer could be doing this, or gear box?

 

[nascar_fan28]

think its ball joints.. ones good way to tell if its bad? it it doesnt move free?