Help me fix my power steering problem

[transampimp]

I've been having some issues with power steering the past month. When the car is cold the pump works good and makes no noise. However once warmed up I have to rev the motor just to give the pump enough energy to work. She sounds like a supercharger. I replaced the belt thinking that maybe an issue. However it didn't help at all. The belt seems to be tight so I don't think it is the tensioner. Has my pump pooped out on me? Rack and pinion? I checked the fluid and it is fine. However she has 100,000 miles now maybe the fluid is bad?

I was told that replacing a powersteering pump on a LT1 is a pain in the a$$ and is hard to bleed. So I'm looking for a quick cheap easy fix if possible.

[MattODoom]

Replacing the PS pump on most anything is a major PITA. They're not hard to bleed though. My dads hotrod has a rack and pinion and we had it bled out in a matter of seconds... just put fluid in with it running and turn the wheel back and forth.

[transampimp]

So chances are it's my power steering pump? Can the fluid go bad? It's just weird how it stops working when warm.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

I've been having some issues with power steering the past month. When the car is cold the pump works good and makes no noise. However once warmed up I have to rev the motor just to give the pump enough energy to work. She sounds like a supercharger. I replaced the belt thinking that maybe an issue. However it didn't help at all. The belt seems to be tight so I don't think it is the tensioner. Has my pump pooped out on me? Rack and pinion? I checked the fluid and it is fine. However she has 100,000 miles now maybe the fluid is bad?

I was told that replacing a powersteering pump on a LT1 is a pain in the a$$ and is hard to bleed. So I'm looking for a quick cheap easy fix if possible.

Sounds like a power steering bearing. When it gets warm it starts to seize up. The supercharger sound is probably metal on metal grinding.

They do make a synthetic power steering fluid that may help (fluid change can't hurt at this point), but it doesn't sound good......

[93formulalt1]

Yeah, I just tell my friends that the p/s noises in my dad's car are just from the supercharger spooling up. . . They actually beleive me, too. . . lol

[wezeles]

yeah they also have power steering conditioner that with new synthetic fluid might get you by for a few more months... but by the time you have heard that sound im affraid its too late pretty much shot... the bleeding part isnt anything though... just before you put the belt on it... give it a few cranks by hand to make sure there is fluid throughout so you dont get a dry start...the thing that probably killed it in the first place was these cold winter days the fluid gets solid and doesnt get into the system fast enough when cold then the dry start ruins the bearings... then once it gets warm and your fluid is at normal operating temp you will notice how bad it sucks...

[transampimp]

Thanks for the help guy's! I will be buying a Turkey baster and sucking out the fluid and replacing it with some synthetic and conditioner this week. It's worth a try I guess. When I replace the pump would it be worth while to add a power steering cooler? I've seen and heard of people doing this to there f-body's. I don't cone race or anything, just curious if it's a good mod for daily driving?

[wezeles]

it will make it last much longer thats for sure... gm power steering pumps arnt the best.. still better than most ford's or dodges but they still die fast anything to help the temp stay down will increase the life alot... and easy way to drain the pump out pull the output line off and the belt off... then just spin the pump and put a little of the new stuff in till it comes out clean that way you know you got all the old fluid out