Is there a way to have 'beffier' power steering?


Since I added 35" tires the pump works much harder and I can for-see a pump failure in the future.





Any suggestions?

I have the same problem it like squeaks or something, especially when you are pressing the brake. Edited by: LBZrcks

Welcome to the world of lifted trucks. Interesting thing is while almost everyone encounters this I haven't heard of any failures.

Welcome to the world of lifted trucks. Interesting thing is while almost everyone encounters this I haven't heard of any failures.


I haven't heard of any failures aswell, but it would be nice to have it easier or like it used to be.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

My pump feels like it is about to kick the bucket too.

I am running H2 take offs and have been for about 20,000
miles. Truck has 50,100 now. I have replaced the Idler and
Pittman arms due to wear at 45,000...

I just saw an ad for an HD steering system upgrade by
Fabtech...much beefier Idler and Pittman arms, but nothing
having to do with the pump. The search continues!

Jason S
Charlotte, Earth.

Is there a way to have 'beffier' power steering?


Since I added 35" tires the pump works much harder and I can for-see a pump failure in the future.





Any suggestions?



Need to upgrade whole system because more than just pump is being
strained here. I have seen after market systems that replace
steering box and add a hydrulic ram to steering too. (or a intergral bigger steering box that developes more torque) The pump is
failing because it is working at maximum pressures more often. "If" you
put is a bigger pump with more pressure you will over stress current
steering box (which is being stressed already) and/or blow seals in it.
There is not easy fix here as truck was never designed for this.

Edited by: snoman

Better pump does not= more pressure unless it's set up to do that. Most of the time it's increased flow rate to help with the load of the brakes and steering. I think ARG makes a replacement pump

This is true but more volume will not fix his problem either as piston
"ram" in box assisting sector gear is maxed out as it is and more flow
will bypass. He needs more "power" assist not more flow. I said
what I did as to show what needs to be down for a good fix and the
limited options to do so.

The sytems you are refering to does not replace the box. What they do is tap the 2 locations needed to operate the hydrolic ram on the axle that moves the tires.


West Texas Offroad sells a set up like that as well as a few others.

I have seen them replace box too where the box controls ram too. Might
look into adapting a box out of a bigger truck too.

They drill and tap the box and sell it to you rebuilt. You send them your box as a core. This is what I meant to say.

They drill and tap the box and sell it to you rebuilt.
You send them your box as a core. This is what I meant to say.



That makes sense because you would have to get the fluid pressure AFTER the control valve in the steering box.

I ran 35's on my 97 1500 without any problems for 40,000 miles and the steering box on our trucks puts that one to shame. I run 39.5x15's and use the truck to do everything and steering box failure has never crossed my mind. I think our IFS front ends have some weak links but I wouldn't stress over the PSP. There are alot of lifted duramax's runnin around and I haven't heard of any problems yet. If there is a problem im sure we will hear about it here.

40K is not much, 140k would be because generally the box will nearly
last life of truck with stock tires, not so with big rubber. Big tires
mean added strain to steering components and there are no free rides
here.

snoman - that is 40,000 miles on a 97 half-ton. I agree that when you lift a truck or alter it there are unforseen problems that might arise, but our trucks are pretty sturdy pieces of equipment. I haven't heard of any problems, have you? And when you say "generally the box will nearly last life of truck with stock tires, not so with big rubber." did you find this from experience and if so what vehicle and what size tires. I don't think that going from stock to 35's is a HUGE jump, plenty of guys with 33's-37's runnin around and postin on here and I haven't seen mayn posts concerning this before.

Remember hydro brakes might not behave well with too much pressure from a different pump.

Remember hydro brakes might not behave well with too much pressure from a different pump.




Good point and too much flow as well