Well that didn't go at all like I had hoped...

Last weekend a friend called me - his bike had died. So I threw the ramps in the back of the '06 350 5.4 gas 4x4 and headed out to save him. Made it about 3 miles and the power steering pump started whining a bit. I knew knew hoses were in order soon, and sure enough when I pulled over and popped the hood there was a nice stream f PS fluid squirting from a rusted out metal section right above the steering box. Turned around and got the truck home, but for the last mile and half I had lost all power steering. Let's just say I didn't have to go to the gym that day.

Had to pull the PS pump out to get the high pressure line off. Had to pull the grill and the lower radiator hose for access to that pump that they stuck way under the driver side head, between that and the cross member. PIA - could have used The Donald and his little hands, lol.

Ordered new lines (ouch!) and installed the today, the low pressure line came with the cooler-to-reservoir line so I replaced that as well. Buttoned it mostly back up and fired it up - no power steering. Crap. Fooled with it awhile, trying turning the gear lock to lock a few times. Nothing. The pump was not sounding that great - like it was still sucking air, but there was no sign of any circulation in the reservoir. I pulled the high pressure line at the steering box, there was some pressure there, but very little volume, just a wee little stream.

I've never had a pump go bad from running with little to no fluid for a short time, but I'm guessing I smoked the pump getting home with no fluid? But before I order a pump and pull that thing all apart again I thought I'd run it by the FTE Brain Trust too make sure I'm not missing anything stupid?

Oh - one other thing - when I got it back together I realized I had reversed the hoses on the cooler. Wasn't too worried about that, I've never seen on the cared which direction the flow went, but thought I'd mention it.