2000 Silverado 1500 with a leaky power steering rack. It's been worse when parked nose high for a while, but on level ground or tail high there is little to no leak. I've been adding a little every few weeks but I've never come back to find a real puddle under it. Today I parked it for a day's worth of entertainment. I went back to it about 15 minutes later and see a decent spot under it already. When I leave it's going to be late and I want to get home (10-15 miles). I have a quart with me so I can buy some time but wondering what the progression will be if it's bad. Assume the rack leaks the reservoir dry, and then the pump will burn up? Will it still steer at that point, just without power assist? Am I going to be in danger of losing steering control? Do I need a plan B if it doesn't heal itself enough?
If the fluid vomits out you'll lose assist and the pump will get noisy. I can't see you losing control but burning up the pump won't be fun.
spandak said:
If the fluid vomits out you'll lose assist and the pump will get noisy. I can't see you losing control but burning up the pump won't be fun.
Hope it doesn't come to that but it's got 300k, so I won't feel bad replacing it vs. being stranded and needing to create a solution at 1:00AM with an inebriated SWMBO.... :-)
I've never had a PS system trauma before so I want to make sure it shouldn't become unmanageable.
Is the belt shared with any other accessories? Worst case just cut it if its by itself.
Patrick said:
In reply to Slippery :
All of them.
Great. Go buy more fluid them, you don't want the pump seizing on you.
My 99 had a leak in the power steering cooler. It's higher up so that might explain why it only leaks down to a point.
You are sure it's coming from the rack? Hoses leak, and can spray quite a distance.
Do not let the pump go dry.
PS fluid is cheap. Pumps aren't. Get more fluid.
Hose everything down with engine cleaner and start looking for the leak. Make sure it's not collecting inside the boots.
Gearheadotaku said:
PS fluid is cheap. Pumps aren't. Get more fluid.
Hose everything down with engine cleaner and start looking for the leak. Make sure it's not collecting inside the boots.
Got back to it and the puddle didn't get any worse, so I added a bit and made it home with no drama. This comment jogged my memory that the first time I noticed the leak was when I had it on ramps to do an oil change. I went back under and the left side boot was wet and it was dripping from there. If I park it on level ground I'll get a little drip after driving for a while. If I back it into the driveway (tail high), no drip. If I pull it straight into the driveway (nose high) it'll leak a good size spot. I sort of think driving it up a few levels in the parking garage tilted it up enough to leak more than normal when I parked it.
I had a friend recommend that the Lucas PS stop leak fluid actually works, so I tried it. I works. You still leak, but your leak keeps getting slower until you eventually don't really have a leak big enough to worry about. It is PS fluid, also, so when there is nothing in your system but it, you are still okay.
Matthew
