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- Apr 12, 2024
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On my 1996 chevy 5.7 350 small block 1500 when I turn the wheel all the way one way and hold it grenades my power steering, blows up the pump. Why does it do this?
Best way to fix power steering pump from blowing apart?
- Thread starter WillBrinkhoff
- Start date
Can you post a picture of the blown up pumps?
Define "blows up the pump".
I have never seen this but my guess would be there is a restriction or other issue with the steering rack causing the high pressure to damage a pump. You should be able to turn the wheels lock to lock but it is not good to hold it there long.
Why are you doing this?
While it does sound like you have a problem in your p/s system, it is never a good idea to hold your steering all the way to the lock, at least on GM cars. I have owned a lot of GM cars, and the p/s pump on every one of them would whine if I held the steering wheel all the way to the lock.
Only one way? Its supposed to modulate a proportioning valve / bypass / pressure relief at full lock - so apparently it is not.
Has this happened to more than one pump?
Has this happened to more than one pump?
Often that is reused on when switching pumps
The bypass valve is at the pump causing fluid to go directly from the pump outlet back to the inlet. When the wheel is held all the way the fluid no longer makes a full circuit through the system. This will cause rapid heating of the pump. It's only designed to bypass for a few seconds at a time.
Why??
By "blow apart" I think he means it's puking fluid.
No reason to ever hold the wheel at lock, tap it and back off a few degrees. I always cringed when I was in the car with someone and they were cranking on the wheel at lock trying to park. Mechanical torture!
No reason to ever hold the wheel at lock, tap it and back off a few degrees. I always cringed when I was in the car with someone and they were cranking on the wheel at lock trying to park. Mechanical torture!
Never had power steering throw it's oil out at full lock, though they do whine a bit. Latest 2 cars had electric powersteering though. Those don't throw electrons out either
Is the p/s res overfilled as well?
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Our 2011 is starting to leak. My wife can't relate to what you say. When I am driving her car, it's getting more difficult as the assist is just not there at idle--I "kiss" the lock and immediately back off. She drives normally and then tells me I better put some cardboard under as she "felt" the wheel go all the way to the end, as if the car did it on its own.
All I'm really saying is my wife doesn't have an appreciation for what you say, whereas most of us do. The pressure is elevated when the wheel is held to the extreme. Can you imagine? There is already a generation who don't even know that power steering once used hydraulic fluid.
In before the ....lock. Get it?
