No Power Steering

Customer came in with zero power steering. I cracked the high pressure line to the gearbox from the pump and had no pressure. (no test port). I removed the power steering pump TRW and the shaft slid out and was not turning anything internally on the pump. The rear gear on the air compressor was not damaged and felt tight. Installed new pump, filter, cleaned reservoir, and lines. Added new fluid and still no power steering. Cracked the line loose and had no pressure. Located a test port and installed and had zero PSI (started with 5000 PSI Gauge and came down to 100 PSI). Could something in the control mechanism in the gearbox allow zero PSI? Truck is a 2005 Peterbilt with ISX. New power steering pump from Pete. Looks like original steering gear.

 

I ordered the pump from Pete for the truck so I am 99% sure it is the right direction (CCW vs CW). I don't know a lot about the failures of the steering gear to know if there is a type of failure that would make the pump put out zero. I would think there would be some PSI so that there would be feedback to the pump. Tried calling some of the gearbox people but everyone is closed today it seems. Guess I was the only dummy working. So I left as well. : )

 

Got it. It was just air in the system. I was just a little apprehensive about having zero pressure after his old pump had wrung the shaft. I didn't want to mess up a 500.00 steering pump.