I have an 00 Silverado ext. cab 4x4 with 5.3. I started out with leaking/stiff power steering, and there was some play in the steering wheel. I replaced the pitman/idler arms, the p.s. pump (twice), the p.s. gear box, greased all the front end fittings, adjusted the preload on the gear box, put new belts and a tensioner on. The play is all gone but the steering is still stiff (not a littlte stiff, a lotta stiff). If no one can help me figure out what is wrong with this thing will one of you shoot me please?! btw I do have p.s. assist at higher rpms.

 

You have "p.s. assist at higher rpms." It sounds like insufficient fluid pressure. If you have hydro-boost, maybe that's where the pressure is bled. Why did you replace the power steering pump twice? Did they gradually degrade?

 

I dont have hydro boost, but I have a feeling that I am loosing pressure somewhere too. I just found that if you turn the wheels with the front off the ground you hear a squirting noise like there is a hole some where. I replaced the pump twice because I thought I got a bad pump