Hello everyone. I have been having problems with my 1998 K1500 power steering. When the truck is cold the power steering works fine. After the engine heats up, or if it is really hot outside, the power steering barely works when turning to the left and cuts in and out when turning to the right. It will be hard to turn to the right and then it will suddenly turn really easily, jerking to the right. When it's cold it doesn't do it, but as I am driving I can feel the steering getting harder and harder as the engine warms up. I have checked the fluid level and it is good. The fluid was pretty brown, about the color of new engine oil, so I siphoned most of it out of the reservoir and added new. That didn't seem to make any difference. It is really starting to annoy me and not to mention it isn't very safe when I am taking a curve and the truck suddenly decides to jerk hard to the right. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Most Power Steering Pumps have an internal Pressure Release Valve built into them. That's the squishing sound you hear, when you firmly turn the wheel to one of the locks. I think when your Fluid starts warming up and thinning, the pressure goes down, and the Valve isn't compensating for it.

I'd say that your Valve is stuck open a little, or, that it has a weak spring. Either case would require an overhaul or replacement Pump. That jerking is a little odd though, usually the valve works pretty smoothly even it if is allowing excessive bypass. Either case, I'd still recommend a new/rebuilt/rebuild Pump.