I have a 2002 Chevy Silverado truck 1500
The power steering was going out so I replaced the power steering pump.
I raised the front end and bled the system turned it over while the front end was still up steering great then lowered the truck and It just wont turn at all
I consider myself pretty well mechanically inclined but gosh Im stumped on this one
Calling in the help of my Chevy Family!!

 

what made you think the pump was going out? what was the original symptom?




rack and pinion or steering box?

 

It would get harder to steering on several different occasions and making a bad noise, when I swapped the new one it was silent and steered smooth then while pulling into driveway the following day it just wouldn't turn, researched it a little and that was when I tried the bleeding of the system, steered great while the front end was off the ground while running then when I set it down it wouldnt turn at all

 

...do you have steering box or rack and pinion?


did the hard steering ever improve after a long trip...1 hour?


equally hard to steer in both directions?

 

I cant even turn it period!! its docked
How can I tell if it has a gear box and/or rack and pinion steering?

 

if the wheels turn freely when raised and engine off, the problem is power steering related.


the pump develops pressure, the spool valve distributes the pressure.


if pressure is being developed either the lines are blocked/restricted or the rack/steering box is nfg


a dealership would install a p/s analyzer to see if the pump is developing pressure.


to id your truck post a picture of the steering linkage or google rack and pinion and steering box then check your truck