I need some insight.

Before i go out and buy a new p/s pump, i thought id ask. Is there something else that would regulate the flow to the p/b and p/s? My brakes are starting to feel soft and sluggish, and i cant turn the tires to either side unless moving, or the ground is wet.

I figured someone else has had to have this prob:rant:

Thanks P/K

IIRC the two systems are separate. Your p/s pump is powered by the engine running the pump and the brakes well are vaccum operated.

P/S pump or maybe a lines is weeping,cracked hose or box worn. Worm gear in the steering box.
You didn't say wether you were losing any fluid from your pump.

Not to hijack this thread, but I have a similar problem. My brakes feel fine, but the power steering on my truck is basically nonexistent unless I'm moving. Every time i check the p/s fluid its low, but I can't find a leak. WTF?

Can't say where it's going,but the powersteering system is a closed system. It only circulates between the pump and steering box.It isn't subject to any other outside influences.The fluid will be lost out of either the cap,front seal on pump,hoses either pressure or return lines.
It has to be lost out of any of these or a combination of them all.
All I can suggest is to start off easy by R&R the hoses and go from there.
Mine had the culprit being the pressure side hose.It was cracked at the fitting on the pump and couldn't see it unless you had her revved up and working the steering wheel forcing the fluid transfer.

On the 6.5 the powersteering and the brakes are feed by the powersteering pump! the 6.5 does not have a vacuum booster for the brakes. mine used to do the samething, hard to steer unless the truck moved a bit or you reved it up... so I replaced the pump and volia cured the parked steering issue....then a week later the re-man pump broke the shaft inside the pump so I had NO BRAKES and NO STEERING. and you cant tell the shaft broke until you take the fanbelt off and pull the pulley completely out of the pump! so I got another one and all has been good in the steering department (must be some kind of hex ....CR)

IF your missing fluid and cant see where from...look up under the dash by the brake pedal likely its soaking your underlay behind the carpet

Replaced the pump on my truck a year ago with a rebuilt.Noticedsimilar s ymptons once in a while lately-hard to turn while stationary but not always.
Should pump be be replaced as a safety measure?Any opinions on what would be best replacement?

On the 6.5 the powersteering and the brakes are feed by the powersteering pump! the 6.5 does not have a vacuum booster for the brakes. mine used to do the samething, hard to steer unless the truck moved a bit or you reved it up... so I replaced the pump and volia cured the parked steering issue....then a week later the re-man pump broke the shaft inside the pump so I had NO BRAKES and NO STEERING. and you cant tell the shaft broke until you take the fanbelt off and pull the pulley completely out of the pump! so I got another one and all has been good in the steering department (must be some kind of hex ....CR)

IF your missing fluid and cant see where from...look up under the dash by the brake pedal likely its soaking your underlay behind the carpet

I thought they were working together! Im losing a little fluid but it only gets low after a couple of months of driving. I guess ill be off to the store to get a new one. Is it a good idea to replace the hoses since im in that far, or wait for them to fail since there probally not cheap?