[FaceDeAce]

2005 Dakota 4wd Ext Cab. 4.7 auto.

So one of the young bucks comes in and says he thinks he broke something on the truck.

I asked what he was doing when it happened and what does he think broke. Answer; burning donuts, made a few turns then the steering jittered and now it drives like there is no power steering. Oil sprayed over front of engine and bottom of the hood. Lots of smoke from burning rubber and plenty of oil spatter from something up front. Kool! Now what needs to be fixed?

Too dark for us to see anything meaningful now. When we look in the daylight tomorrow, what might we be checking for possible cause?

Ideas ....
- hoping it is simply a blown hose. What else might it be.
What else?

 

[FaceDeAce]

OK, it appears to be spewing from around the power steering pump shaft when the steering is pressed up against the end stop. Perhaps the internal pressure bypass is not relieving. He must have rammed it agains the stops and popped the seal.

Is this a typical PS system failure? This is a first for me. Never before had power steering problem to fix. Saying that; what is the fix? Is there are seal or rebuild kit for power steering pumps? Is it easy to do?

 

[FaceDeAce]

Replaced the power steering pump today. Easy but very messy job. Fluid everywhere! An absolute must is to have that puller and press tool specifically for this. Don't even think about starting the job without it.

Looking in the port of the high pressure side, the internal valve on the old one appears to be missing some bits when as compared to the new (remanufactured) one. That must be the problem with the old one. No relief or too much relief. Either way it does not hold oil in.

The new pump is installed and problem solved. No leaks and steering is super smooth. Final cost; 180$ Cdn for the pump, the tool, and the pump core returned.