2001 Chevy Express Power Steering Intermittent After Repair

Tiny
KPACHODAP
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 116,000 MILES
Recently I took my van in for repair after the power assist for the steering failed suddenly one morning after pulling out of the driveway (it was -10F). The shop showed me the pump and the shaft was broken in half. They replaced the pump twice and each time there was no power assist. The next morning they tried a third pump and road tested it and they said the assist was working. I drove the van about a half hour to work and noticed that on occasion that the assist was nearly gone. Now the power assist comes in and out intermittently without any apparent rhyme or reason. The shop recommended that I have the steering gear replaced.
Sunday, January 25th, 2009 AT 6:07 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
Well, whatever seized up your PS pump to the point where it broke the shaft, may have worked it's way down to the rack and pinion. Flushing the PS system when they replaced the pump may have prevented this, but it's hard to say. If you do have the rack changes, be sure they flush the system. Hope this helps.
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Sunday, January 25th, 2009 AT 6:57 PM

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