Steering box replacement issues
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 6
Steering box replacement issues
Put in a new steering box today. The whole process went pretty smoothly until startup and test drive. To start I believe I still have air in the system despite my attempts to get it out. When running the truck has a spongy brake pedal and the power steering pump is loud when depressing the brake. With the front wheels off the ground the truck turns left and right with ease, small amount of power steering whine at full left lock.
So far I have lifted the front wheels off the ground and cycled the steering full lock left to full lock right, I don’t know how many times. Added fluid to the power steering reservoir to try and keep it full in between cycles. The truck purges the fluid and shoots it all over the engine bay and down the frame rail after steering wheel and brake pedal cycles. I have done cycling both while running and while off. I’ve been at it for hours now, without much improvement. Any suggestions before I take it to a shop?
So far I have lifted the front wheels off the ground and cycled the steering full lock left to full lock right, I don’t know how many times. Added fluid to the power steering reservoir to try and keep it full in between cycles. The truck purges the fluid and shoots it all over the engine bay and down the frame rail after steering wheel and brake pedal cycles. I have done cycling both while running and while off. I’ve been at it for hours now, without much improvement. Any suggestions before I take it to a shop?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 1,704
Probably full of air and just got to get it all worked out. With it jacked up and engine off turn back and forth a couple times and try to purge air out and refill as needed. Then when it's full put cap on and fire it up just for a second and turn it back off and then see if it sucked any down and fill back up and repeat until it stops taking fluid.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 418
Likes: 178
From: Piedmont of N.C.
If I turn my steering with the engine off, it will leak fluid from under the cap. I’ve always filled my reservoir while the engine is running. If I don’t do it this way, it will suck air and howl. When you fill the reservoir initially with the engine off to the dipstick full mark, crank the engine with the cap off and look down into the filler neck. You’ll see a vortex of fluid being pulled down into the reservoir. You’ll also hear the air being ingested by the pump giving that howling noise. I just top it off until the vortex goes away and then the noise goes away.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 6
Kept adding fluid and cycling the wheel and brake pedal, got most of the sponginess out of the pedal now. Added almost 2 quarts of fluid to get here. It got dark and cold so I through in the towel until tomorrow. My only issue I have now is that I don’t have power steering when turning right. Not sure how to describe it, but when driving down the road it is extremely hard to turn right, but turning left is no big deal. Wondering if I just need to drive it some and work the air out of it some more.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 530
From: Bottom Of Pikes Peak
sounds like a failed pump but hopefully air somehow is still stuck in there, but not sure how.
I recently had an issue where my brakes started acting up(pretty much lost), then the steering went while taking the kids across town to school. I carefully drove it to my buddy's (30 more minutes away) because that's where I have a lot of my spare parts. replaced the hydroboost unit and still had issues although somewhat better. replaced the pump and all was good.
Truck was fine before this happened but I knew my hydroboost was starting to leak inside the cab.
So, I'm thinking for whatever reason, your pump has failed, but could be wrong
I recently had an issue where my brakes started acting up(pretty much lost), then the steering went while taking the kids across town to school. I carefully drove it to my buddy's (30 more minutes away) because that's where I have a lot of my spare parts. replaced the hydroboost unit and still had issues although somewhat better. replaced the pump and all was good.
Truck was fine before this happened but I knew my hydroboost was starting to leak inside the cab.
So, I'm thinking for whatever reason, your pump has failed, but could be wrong
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
If you have a way to pull a vacuum on the system at the reservoir that will draw any remaining air out. I was able to feed hose through one of those hand primer bulbs and used it to seal around the mouth of the reservoir. It held well enough to pull the air out on mine.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
It will take several drive cycles to get all the air worked out. The ATF just foams and then the entire system is full of air. Turn the engine off, let it sit for a half hour. Top up the reservoir as needed. The air still trapped in the system will be reintroduced to the once solid-liquid ATF that is sitting in the pump reservoir, but now it's not quite so charged with air this time. Give it time it will work it's way out.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
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Still no power assisted steering when turning right. Talked with the company I got the box from, going to try one more thing he recommended then will probably have to take the box back off and send it in. Was really hoping to avoid that
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Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 6
With the wheels off the ground, the truck turns left and right with ease. When driving around no power when turning right, regardless of rpm range. No I do not have a filter.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 6
I contacted the company again and was told to flush the system completely again and go from there. I have ran out of time to work on it for quite awhile so its going to ford on Friday for another flush and more new fluid. If this doesn't do the trick off comes the new gearbox and return to the company. Im really hoping I just have air in the system somewhere, but I'm done messing with it for now.
I appreciate all of the replies and suggestions, ill update the tread when I get the issue resolved.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
Shameless Click Bait! Now I gotta go look it up just to figure out how it got that for a name. Dirty deeds Kwikk dirty deeds.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Glad I could help.
Let me know when you figure that out. It's been a term in the auto repair industry now for decades and I never knew where it came from either. 