My dad was backing up his boat when all of the sudden the power steering and brakes went out. The power steering fluid is still full and there are no leaks anywhere in that system nor the brake system. If he forces it he can turn the steering wheel and stop the van but neither is an easy task. Anyone know what could have happened? He has a 1999 Chevy Express van with the turbo diesel in it.

Thanks

SWAG - broken shaft on the power steering pump. No power steering pump, no brake
assist and it steers like a truck :-).

Jim

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to check into it more tomorrow. I wasn't for sure the two systems were connected but I had an idea when both went out at the same time.

SWAG - broken shaft on the power steering pump. No power steering pump, no brake
assist and it steers like a truck :-).

Jim
same thing happened to my cousins 01 d-max it was a broken power steering pump shaft

It could be the pump pressure release valve is stuck open by a piece of debris, the pump is broken, or the pulley is free wheeling on the shaft. In any case, I would repace the pump (with a lifetime warranty one). I keep a Wix filter on the return line to my pump to trap wear particles or anything that might come loose.

So how big of a job is it to replace the pump in a van? I never worked on one before. Is there any special steps?

In a pickup, or at least mine, it is simple. The van will probably be more crowded, but hopefully nothing is setting above the power steering pump. If your air cond. compressor is above then you may have to move it out of the way to get clearance.

I disconnect the fluid hoses to the pump, loosen the pump brackets so that you can remove the belt, and then remove the pump (which may entail removing some of the brackets). Put a big pan underneath to catch the fluid.

When you buy your replacement pump make sure that the outlets and tubes match exactly your old unit. Make sure the parts store re-installs the pulley from your old unit to the new one to the same position (depth)on the shaft so the belts will line up properly.

I keep my pump a little loose on the mounting brackets when I install the pressure hose on the new pump. There is less chance of cross threading the pressure hose fitting into the pump if you have a little play. I put the belt on and then tighten the brackets after the hose is installed. Then I tighten the pressure hose fitting and install the fluid return hose or hoses.
Fill the reservoir, run the engine, check for leaks, and fill the reservoir to the proper level after the air is out of the system.

I use a crowfoot wrench on the pressure hose fitting due to the close tolerances. You may or may not require the use of a crow foot.

try the vacum pump, the same thing happened to my 86 ford diesel.