99 Tahoe Steering Box Issues

[Larryjb]

The "Professional" series is the low rung of quality when it comes to AC Delco parts.

I would argue that ACdelco Advantage is the low. But maybe we can say advantage is the lowest of the low, professional is low. That said, I personally have been satisfied with many AC pro line parts. That is, in part, due to not being able to get the ACDelco original many times.

 

[OR VietVet]

I agree. The Advantage line is the lowest and next up is Professional and then the OE. I prefer OE always but have sacrificed for availability before. I should have went deeper with my explanation.

 

[Larryjb]

No problem. I assumed that the Advantage line didn't even make your radar.

 

[Toomanyhobbies]

If you want the steering to be "good" you need to get a redhead box, period. The reman delco box, or any other auto parts store brand, will always be a slush box.

You will also need to get rid of the rag joint in the column and replace with an unbalanced engineering (or similar depending whether you need large or small I forget) metal "donut."

I took it a step further and did a steering stabilizer as well. I would also strongly recommend the Helwig rear sway bar. That made the single biggest difference. I did all of this stuff and it is night and day better but still probably 80% as good as my GMT 800 in terms of handling.

And as the above posts stated, you definitely need to ditch the EVO and buy the "adapter" which is a $60 little metal U.

PM me if you have questions I have spent a lot of time on your issues and have the same truck.

 

[alpinecrick]

He’s probably referring to the EVO system which is specific to the 97 and up power steering pumps. The sensor on the steering shaft (under the dash) is usually the culprit and, for me, felt like you hit a patch of ice when going around a moderate curve. The valve connection at the pump is also a pretty common leak point.

I put a Delco Professional reman gearbox in my 98 and yanked it out after a half mile test drive. It required constant correction to maintain on-center steering. Ridiculous.

Redhead and Bluetop are mom and pop type rebuild companies and tend to get good reviews. I’d go with one of those before Cardone. I’ve had good experiences with both.

This^^^

Although I have been told the AC Delco remans are better than most reman steering gears, I have yet to find a reman that works like the original factory gear.

Redtop and Bluetop have mixed reviews, some folks have had durability issues. Unfortunately, I don't know anybody who makes brand new steering gears for the EVO, so one of the aftermarket rebuilders is probably your best bet.

As east said, check your sensor, they do commonly quit.

If you choose to bypass the EVO (some people do), BBB/Vision makes a brand new steering gear (EVO didn't start until 97, so a gear from a 96 Tahoe should work to my knowledge). I have one sitting in my garage waiting to be installed on my 96 K1500, hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[exp500]

Alot of confusing info on the EVO here- thought I could help. Evo used 97-98. Some 99's had it. I don't know of any 2000 OBS that used EVO. That said, easiest fix is 96 pressure line to steering gear. Cheaper and most effective long term fix than the Adapter elbow(less Fittings to leak). NOTHING different on steering gear. Look at back of steering pump. Do you have Wires going to it? That is EVO valve. Don't repair EVO system. Remove valve from pump and tywrap to harness behind pump. Computer sees EVO Valve and won't set code.

 

[willxfs]

My rig is a 1998 2 door with 4wd. Power steering started leaking. I tried a new 96 high pressure line and a non-EVO valve to screw into the back of the pump. The leak stopped but the steering was way to sensitive. I hated it. I ended up going back to the EVO system. Giant pain in ass to get it to stop leaking. I got 3 years out of a rebuilt AC Delco pump. Then two bad Nappa pumps then a new Cardone pump. Might still have a very slight leak. I also had a leak out of my red head gear box. Changed a seal on the pitman output shaft and its much better. I remember reading on the forum not too long ago about using the 96 high pressure line and an aftermarket valve for the back of the pump that reduced flow just a bit to give a better steering feel. That will be my next try when my current setup starts leaking... Good luck.

 

[exp500]

Willxfs- Remember hydraulics 101- Pressure and flow. In a previous post I recommended Bills Hotrod co. power steering kit P/N 1001. It's a shim kit for pump pressure- alot are available but this one has a bracket to hold things together. Next 2 are tougher for real information- The flow control valve is a drilled orfice. You seem to know what too big is like. Likewise the shims for pressure. Last is pump output A vacuumn brake system uses small pump,hydroboost big pump. Saginaw made many many different pumps. Too much pump means wasted fuel more wear on everything in system. Many people have never driven a manual steering box vehicle these days. If the pump protests a little sitting still on hot asphalt while trying to turn the wheels, then you are closer to a perfect balance between flow/pressure. A moving 98 suv should ALWAYS move when wheel turned without protest- or the wife wont ever drive it. Good news is its pretty hard to get too small of a pump. And the Flow control threads into back of pump, so swapping around to find a better choice is easy. Try searching saginaw pumps at Upullit. Grab a couple off of something different. Thats one way to get different Flow controls. Or pumps. And many of them bolt right into your application with a tank swap.

 

[Squirrelsmith]

If you want the steering to be "good" you need to get a redhead box, period. The reman delco box, or any other auto parts store brand, will always be a slush box.

You will also need to get rid of the rag joint in the column and replace with an unbalanced engineering (or similar depending whether you need large or small I forget) metal "donut."

I took it a step further and did a steering stabilizer as well. I would also strongly recommend the Helwig rear sway bar. That made the single biggest difference. I did all of this stuff and it is night and day better but still probably 80% as good as my GMT 800 in terms of handling.

And as the above posts stated, you definitely need to ditch the EVO and buy the "adapter" which is a $60 little metal U.

PM me if you have questions I have spent a lot of time on your issues and have the same truck.

When you say stabalizer your referring to one of these?

 

[Toomanyhobbies]

Yes exactly what I meant.


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