problem with my truck

[River rat]

I've got a 97 Suburban K1500 with the 5.7 motor, last night I come home and got it stuck in the yard (don't ask) about two feet of wet snow just packed underneath and lifted it up, I got it out by shoveling out the snow underneath and backing out but my power steering no longer works. I put it in the garage overnight and thawed it out with a bullet heater, there is no snow packed in the linkage, the belt is spinning everything, no slippage. I probably tried to move the tires left and right when I was stuck but there was no moving them and even at that I was not reefing on the wheel, could I possibly have blown out the pump or gearbox? Any help would be appreciated.

[Phil T.]

Did you tear a hose loose so the fluid is gone?

[River rat]

No Phil, everything looks just as it should underneath. No wierd noises either.

[Pitts]

Take the top off the resevior and look for fluid level on the stick or use a flashlight you can see it if you look down the filler neck.
With the key on and the motor off turn the wheel hard and the wheels should move especially if it is on ice or a wet garage floor. If they don't move and the steering wheel turns fairly easily then it could be the steering box.

I'm no mechanic but there is also an electrical servo or switch that would make the hydraulic steering ram assist move one direction or the other or there could be two rams and a valve body that has electrical connections to it.

Bottom line is if it turns easily and doen't turn the wheels it probably is the box and if it turns hard with no assist something is wrong with the hydraulics.

Hope it gets cold again so we can fish.

Pitts

[Fritz]

When the gear box fell out of my Ford F150, it started by steering real easy, then it was no steering. I could of spun the steering wheel all day.

[Hans]

Did you maybe kink (but not break) one of the metal hydraulic lines?

Hans

[Fishpounder]

I work in an Olds-Cadillac dealership. This week we have had a "curious" thing happen. We have replaced a few power steering pumps that have had the pulley shaft break at the back of the pump on the inside of it. Take your belt off (or loosen it)and see if the pulley moves in and out. Sounds like what your problem is by the way you describe it. Hope this helps.

Cross their eyes!
Fishpounder
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