I have an issue with the power steering in my '85 T/A. When driving it's fine but at low speeds it gets hard to turn. At a stop it's almost impossible to turn the wheel. Is it the pump or the box? It doesn't seem to be leaking any fluid as far as i can tell.

 

If I had to guess id say its the power steering pump. Check the fluid level, hoses, and the belt.

 

Thanks, man. How much does a power steering pump usually run and how hard is it to replace?

 

I replied to your other post about the cost (about $60 for a reman unit). It's a pretty easy job to replace. The biggest challenge for me was to un-do the high pressure line. It was on so tight that my line wrenches just expanded and were ready to slip and round off the nut. I ended up forcing a non-metric wrench over the nut (with a bit of hammer persuasion) and this gripped it tightly enough to break it loose. The only other challenge I had was keeping tension on the belt while tightening it down at the very end. I put a small pipe wrench on a little tab of the bracket (not the pump itself or the tank) and this gave me enough leverage to keep the belt tight.

If you are going to replace the box as well, this would be the time to do it so you don't have to drain and fill the system twice. That's also a pretty easy job. Just un-bolt the stuff and bolt it back up. You'll need a pitman arm puller and a big socket for the pitman arm nut, but otherwise just basic tools.

 

almost certain its the pump, but make sure its not anything else first. check all other steering components first.

 

Ok will do. Thanks guys. Im gonna work on it a little this weekend.