Well, I finally got a cummins. I recently bought a 93 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 5 speed, and among other little problems, the power steering doesn't work. From looking on here, it seems like a lot of guys have had power steering problems. My question is where to start looking to fix it. Is it possible that the pump is good and the box needs replaced? I'm hoping it just needs a new pump, but I figured I'd check in with the experts on here before I started buying parts. Also, the oil pressure gauge doesn't work. Is this also a common problem? The wiring looks intact, and is hooked up the the sending unit.

One more question-if I were to put on a mechanical oil pressure gauge, where is the easiest oil passage to tap into?

Thanks.

 

right on top of the filter housing, there should be a 1/8" plug. perfect for getting an oil pressure reading. sometimes the senders fail, bad grounds and so on... bad contacts on the back of the gauge and at the circular bulk head plug. neat trick, take a pencil eraser and "erase" the dirt off the copper printed circuit board for the gauges and use a little bit of di-electric grease around the studs on the gauges. give it a shot, simple and FREE if it works.

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as for the power steering, any distinct noises? a low groan/whine is likely low fluid, a "hiss" when the wheel is turned while the wheel ISNT againt the bump stops could just be the pressure bypass has failed. pretty much anything other than a whine means pump replacement. possible spool valve problems with-in the gear box but thats pretty much everything you're looking at

 

As far as the PS I'd start by pullin the pump and making sure the drive on the back is ok. It's like a flathead screwdriver tip and is driven off the vacum pump. There's a round piece that ties the two pumps together, looks like a real thick washer with a cross cut in it. If the tip is broke off of the ps pump or the vacum pump your ps pump won't be turnin.

 

good point above, crack the powersteering line... might be an easier way to see if the pump is turning as it should have some sort of output if it's spinning

 

If you need a new gear box I have one for sale in good shape almost no play for 80$ pm me if needed