Turned, left, the steering wheel would not come back?

Tiny
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  • 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • 6.0L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230 MILES
Just got done replacing the power steering pump took it for a test drive and I went to turn right. Everything worked correctly. Then I went to turn left and as soon as I turned, left, the steering wheel would not come back to the center, I had to force the steering wheel back to the sinner and when I did that you could hear Which sounded to be like binding or clunking noise from forcing the steering wheel left to the center just trying to figure out what this problem could be
Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 7:18 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
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Hello, did you bleed the air out of the power steering system after the repair? If not we can explain how to, its very easy, you just need a jack and 2 jack stands. Support the front of the truck with both front tires up in the air enough so you can turn the steering wheel back and forth, left to right, right to left while up in the air, this bleeds all the air out of the rack, pump and hoses.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 1:26 PM
Tiny
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We have a guide to replacing the pump here as well, what was the original issue with the old pump? Just leaking?
I have always had both tires up on jack stands at equal heights so I can turn the steering wheel fully left and fully right a bunch of times to bleed to air out and have never had an issue afterwards, even its replacing and entire rack or just a pump.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-power-steering-pump
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 1:29 PM
Tiny
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Steering pump was going bad so I replaced it bleed the brakes after I did this worked for about 3 min took a left turn then all of a sudden it was terribly hard to turn the wheel back straight from left but easy to turn right still can’t figure it out idk if it has something to do with the hydro boost pump or what.
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Friday, January 3rd, 2025 AT 9:07 PM
Tiny
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Where did the pump come from? And did you notice any metal particles in the old fluid?
And I see quite a few different 6.0liter vehicles in service info, from the SS model to C1500-3500, K1500-3500. The SS All Wheel Drive is the only one listed with a different vin # at the 8th digit. The rest are all "U" for the 8th digit
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
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This is the procedure listed in service info for bleeding the power steering system. It sounds like the system may still be low on fluid if you read through this.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
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There is also a procedure listed for (w/ Hydro-Boost) here.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 12:07 PM
Tiny
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Yes, the old pump had metal pieces in it.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
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Hopefully no metal particles got into the gear box or rack, which ever it has, There is a high pressure line that goes from the pump to the hydro boost unit, I think you would feel braking issues relatively quick if there was a problem with hydro boost, the brake pedal would be very hard as it would with any loss of braking assist. The ports for power steering are very small though, and hearing metal noises is not a good sign.
Considering you had pieces of the old pump coming out you might want to drain the new fluid into a clean container and see if any more particles come out, I think thats where I would start.
If it has a power steering cooler, those are usually a pretty low point where you could check and drain the fluid as well.
Ive never had an air issue with power steering that caused any type of clunking or grinding noises. I think only a bit of the pump wining while I was turning the wheel back and forth during the bleeding process. Most power steering pumps are replaced due to leaking issues as well. Even running a magnet through the new fluid once its drained will catch any metal just to see how bad it really is.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-fluid-flush
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
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Doing the bleeding process again, already did it once.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
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Was there any improvement at all the 2nd time? Do you have the front end jacked up where you can turn the wheel back and forth, and is there any issue with the left turn off the ground?
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
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No unfortunately steering wheel almost has a mind of its own.
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
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Is it binding in both directions now?
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Saturday, January 4th, 2025 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
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No, no binding at all. Now it is just really hard to turn left to right and sometimes when turning left the steering wheel to the left all the way on its own. I’m unsure of the issue at this point can’t be the power steering pump.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 4:29 AM
Tiny
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Does the truck have a gear box or rack and pinion? It sounds like there's still an issue with air trapped in the system. When you have the front jacked up on two jack stands are you bleeding it by turning fully to the left and right as far as the wheel will turn? It usually takes quite a few times doing it, especially since there is a high-pressure line to the hydro boost as well.
It's possible something is clogged up in one of the ports on the gear box or rack, some debris from the old pump blocking fluid from getting into the right turning port, and there's constant pressure to the left turning port. I don't think it's the pump either, when you turn the wheel one direction or the other, fluid is directed to one side of the rack's piston or the other to give assist in that direction. These ports are very small, so something might have migrated into one and that's causing this issue. And another factor is that these power steering pumps are much higher-pressure pumps than a regular system because of the added brake assist.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
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  • 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
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Steering is still very hard but when I give it gas makes it sort of easier but not like it should be I’ve started the truck before, and the steering wheels turn itself straight to the left also.
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Sunday, January 5th, 2025 AT 4:58 PM (Merged)
Tiny
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If the wheel is turning by itself to the left when not moving, then power steering fluid must be being directed to the left side assist, thats the only way the wheel would turn itself like that. Does the truck have a rack and pinion or a gear box with a pitman arm for a steering setup?
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2025 AT 10:40 AM

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