This summer my power steering pump failed while I was wheeling in the heavy sugar sand in the Jersey Pine Barrens. The initial failure was in the gasket at the rear of the PSP and happened at the same time I broke my driver side front axle. After finally getting a new axle installed I replaced the PSP with a chinesium PSP which continued to have problems. Finally last week I replaced the high pressure lines and the PSP with OEM toyota parts but I am still having major issues. Initially the power steering worked fine and felt like it just had a little bit of air left in the system. As the week went on the assist would seem to cut in and out based off of RPMS. If i got over 2600 the assist worked fine but anything under that and it was gone. Now after a week of daily driving the power steering assist has gone completely. The weird thing is that there are no leaks in the system. I have meticulously checked every single fitting and the reservoir levels every day and there are no leaks. When I start the truck with the reservoir cover off I can see fluid moving around in the res.
I am now stumped. The only piece of the power steering puzzle that is original to the vehicle is the gear box, but why would it function just fine initially and then gradually fail when there is no leak? I am not hearing any noise that would indicate I F'ed up the axle install and the truck does turn just fine when the PS system works.
I would like to add that all gaskets, O rings and crush washers have all been replaced with OEM toyota factory parts or their supplanted parts.
Thanks in advance!
I am now stumped. The only piece of the power steering puzzle that is original to the vehicle is the gear box, but why would it function just fine initially and then gradually fail when there is no leak? I am not hearing any noise that would indicate I F'ed up the axle install and the truck does turn just fine when the PS system works.
I would like to add that all gaskets, O rings and crush washers have all been replaced with OEM toyota factory parts or their supplanted parts.
Thanks in advance!