nericreed

Other than being more difficult to steer would it cause any additional damage if I simply take the belt off of the power steering pump and drive it without any power steering?

My PS system is leaking in several places and I don't want to repair it. I was thinking that I would just drive it without any power steering assist.

Would I being doing more damage to something else if I do that?

scope103

Have you tried it? (just roll down your driveway with the engine off). I'm no light-weight, but I'm pretty sure I couldn't drive mine in my neighborhood without the power assist.

But to answer your question, it APPEARS that all the lubrication in the steering gear comes from the ATF. Without the pump running, I would suspect that the steering gear would have insufficient lubrication. I don't know (the manual gives no advice on how to set up your truck for driving it that way), but I wouldn't try it.

RJR

Generally vehicles that are designed without power assisted steering have higher steering ratios (more turns of the steering wheel lock-to-lock) to give greater mechanical advantage to the driver. In addition, by just taking the belt off the pump, you leave the hydraulic actuators in place, and now you become the pump moving fluid through the system, which adds to your workload. The end result is that, while it's not impossible to wrestle the front end around that way, it makes for difficult driving, and forget about parallel parking. I'm with scope - I don't think it's a great idea except in emergencies.

Why/where is it leaking? Any chance someone filled it with power steering fluid instead of ATF? If that's the case, flushing and refilling with ATF may cause it to stop leaking in a week or two. Might be worth a try.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

If you live in the country and never go into town you maybe could put up with it for a week or two.

Been here and would tell anyone fix the leaks!! or the problem.

Since manual steering boxes that would just be a simple swap are few and far between swapping to a manual steering box is not much of a option.

nericreed

Thank you all for your very helpful feedback. You have convinced me to fix the problem. I'm 62 now and not as eager as I once was to tackle such challenges, but there will less troubles if I just fix it, so I will do that. You have been VERY helpful. Thanks a lot!!