it's a PSC pump
I'll pay closer attention between cold and once it's hot, like I mentioned, once I'm going I can turn it pretty easily but not once I've slowed
doesn't make any noise but I'll pay closer attention to it.
yes, it felt like a shudder and less fluid before it became more manual feeling
As ridg3runner said, check the fittings. And you could also try bleeding the system, that is pretty easy to do;
- Remove the cap on the steering reservoir and make sure the fluid level is just above the fluid return line's point of entry where it dumps back into the reservoir (top fluid line on reservoir).
- Depending on which model reservoir you have the fluid level should be 1"-2'' from the actual top of the reservoir, or about 1/2"-1'' above the top of the fluid return line's point of entry on the reservoir (never fill the fluid to the top or you will create a huge overflow mess)
- Lift the front end far enough off the ground so both tires are not touching and they can be turned left to right (or lock to lock) by pulling/pushing on the tire.
- Again, with reservoir cap off, slowly cycle the steering lock to lock by pulling/pushing on one of your front tires.
- Do this four or five times from steering lock to steering lock. It will cycle any air in the system to the highest point of the closed circuit, which is the reservoir. Any air will simply bubble out of the fluid and out of the reservoir with out the cap.
- Finish by topping off the fluid to just above the return lines point of entry into the reservoir if the level has dropped.
If this doesn't help improve the symptoms at all, and you are noticing the ram assist needs more RPM and effort to turn your front wheels, you may actually need a new power steering pump.
One other tip: if you need to change your pump and you want to try doing this at home, remember the power steering system is gravity fed from the reservoir to the pump and will be very messy when you remove the fittings from the pump. To eliminate most of the mess get one of those big Kitchen Turkey Baster/Gravy squirter/Bulb Suction Syringe things. Use this to suck all the fluid out of your reservoir before loosening any fittings on the pump. In fact once the reservoir is dry, cycle the steering lock to lock to force as much fluid in the rest of the system back into the reservoir, then suction it out again. This will keep you from losing the entire contents of the fluid reservoir all over your engine, manifold, axle, belt and garage floor.
I have used this technique to change a pump in the parking lot of hotel without any mess and I only had one bottle of power steering fluid so I needed to save what I could.......so you could kind of say it is an authorized JK Experience technique for self recovery :icon_crazy:
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