Hard to turn steering wheel in parking lot.

[Matahoe]

A few years ago in put in a new power steering pump and it's just never worked well. It still has poor assistance when in parking lots and other low speed maneuvers. I'm about to spring for another pump but thought I would ask here first with all the experience and stuff. Does putting in GM fluid make any difference in your experiences? Right now I'm using regular Prestone power steering fluid.

 

[PG01]

A few years ago in put in a new power steering pump and it's just never worked well. It still has poor assistance when in parking lots and other low speed maneuvers. I'm about to spring for another pump but thought I would ask here first with all the experience and stuff. Does putting in GM fluid make any difference in your experiences? Right now I'm using regular Prestone power steering fluid.

No on the fluid.
Was it a gm pump? I know for a while aftermarket replacement pumps were bad right out of the box.
My mechanics at work were have issues left and right.... i think this was 5-6 years ago when they wrre battling this.

 

[Fless]

If you have hydroboost brakes and get a good pump you'll probably notice a difference in braking at low speeds if your pump is out of spec. Mine was and it made a difference.

 

[Matahoe]

If you have hydroboost brakes and get a good pump you'll probably notice a difference in braking at low speeds if your pump is out of spec. Mine was and it made a difference.

Yes I have hydroboost. So you bought a replacement pump and it works good now? What brand did you get?

 

[drakon543]

i think another member had a similar issue and i either lost the thread or they stopped posting shortly after my suggestion. dont these models have variable steering assist for low and high speed steering? i think there is a sensor on the column or something thats supposed to work with a speed sensor. if your going at slow speeds its supposed to open up a valve somewhere to give you more pressure. i know my 97 has something similar and mine was the opposite but it was a faultt valve on mine. it would suddenly boost steering assist while i was making a turn at higher speeds.

 

[Fless]

Yes I have hydroboost. So you bought a replacement pump and it works good now? What brand did you get?

I did have it replaced along with the steering gear box, pitman arm, etc. while I was having some front end work done. I'm not quite sure of the brand; number on the invoice is 003050. The shop is a NAPA shop and I get a pretty good warranty with it, including labor. There is a procedure to test the pump pressure.

 

[Matahoe]

I did have it replaced along with the steering gear box, ...

So, going by what you had done...the problem I am having could be the gearbox as well? Guess I need to dive into the service manual a bit more and follow the step by step troubleshooting some more.

 

[Matahoe]

dont these models have variable steering assist for low and high speed
Steering?..

In our model..no. Not that I am aware of. If there were, we would know for sure. We would be able to see some sort of computer controlled electronics, connectors and servos attached to the P/S pump.

A quick Google search shows the steering sensor is used for the traction control and Stabilitrak. Perhaps 4 wheel steering as well? If there was a problem with the steering angle sensor the DIC would show a "STABILITRAC DISABLED "message. Such as when the vehicle is put into 4 low.

 

[drakon543]

In our model..no. Not that I am aware of. If there were, we would know for sure. We would be able to see some sort of computer controlled electronics, connectors and servos attached to the P/S pump.

A quick Google search shows the steering sensor is used for the traction control and Stabilitrak. Perhaps 4 wheel steering as well? If there was a problem with the steering angle sensor the DIC would show a "STABILITRAC DISABLED "message. Such as when the vehicle is put into 4 low.

ahh i am mistaken then but its not a servo or anything complex like that on the 97 its just an electronic pressure valve that opens and closes. i do see a listing for an evo valve like on my 97 listed for the 03 Tahoe's but only 1 single listing regarding it.

 

[Fless]

So, going by what you had done...the problem I am having could be the gearbox as well? Guess I need to dive into the service manual a bit more and follow the step by step troubleshooting some more.

I don't think they're related. My complaint when I took it in was that the PS pump was whining and apparently not creating enough pressure at low RPMs; they tried some PS additive but that wasn't much of an improvement in noise. They did a frontend alignment then but told me to expect to have the steering gearbox replaced if I wanted it to go straight down the road and not wander. A few months later I took it in for the gearbox and had them test and replace the PS pump, just because they had it there and it needed to be done.