if a truck loses power steering and air at the same time...

The air compressor and power steering pump are in the rear of the engine, driven by a gear setup like any other engine. If you lost air and PS, then there is a problem with that end of the engine and better to have the WS or FL dealer look at it.

 

What year is your truck ,how many miles
I have a 05 with a Mercedes in it.
I 've replaced both idler bullies.
As for air not building up. By pass air dryer. When you do this check hose from compresser for air supply. The air compresser is gear driven.

 

And check that compressor hose carefully, it gets hot.

I drove a merchedes once or twice in my time. A interesting journey bouncing between 15 foot concrete plates before that part of 95 was issued a proper blacktop paving two feet thick. Boing boing boing boing. I wont be doing that again. Not to mention the 5 speed with a strange tree that put it's 4th way over here and 5th way over there. It's not for me.

If your power steering is failing, absolutely take it to the dealer right away. It's such a vital DOT item lives depend on it working correct. Ive had trucks in which power steerings went out in my time with stories to match. Either from being seriously overloaded or when the front end quit providing steering requiring a tow. I was with DM Bowman when my air compressor died north of Doswell Petro over dinner. That one got towed. The shop queen I was given had a front end that wont steer, that one got towed too. And this was on top of a complete loss of the electrical system at the Navy Base a few days prior requiring yet another Tow. Three days, three tows. Until I was finally given on express orders of company management the nice 96 freightliner classic daycab with the big 550 in it. I was issued a brand new CH mack as a compenstation for taht difficult money losing week. It was a perfect truck for the upcoming winter battles on ice near Altoona daily.

 

You never seen a belt driven air compressor? Ford & GM used a lot of them in time past. I'll walk out in the shop in a few minutes and take a pic. Have one still on a 432 cubic inch V6 truck engine.

 

3208 cats are known to have them too.

 

Yes they did you are correct. Anyone remember what the 3208 was relabeled as in some of the bigger Louisville Fords??