So I am at the end of my Chevy 350 swap in my 88 4Runner. Running a old school "canned ham" style P series Saginaw pump. Hooked up the old power steering pump which I put new seals in, I get no power steering. Tried bleeding it by jacking it up and going lock to lock a bunch of times. Cracked the lines and fluid starts to come out. Verified that I have the hoses hooked up right. Nothing at all.

Bought a new pump today, and STILL no power steering.

Is there something wrong with my steering box? Its the stock Toyota. Worked just fine before the swap. It did sit a few days with the lines off before I plugged the holes with a wad of paper towel.

This is really making me mad. Its basically the only thing keeping me from driving the truck.

Adam , did you figure this out yet? If your pump is fine and is putting out sufficient pressure and volume then the only other thing I can think of is the gear box or an obstruction.

Still working on it. I bled everything for a while and NOTHING.

Now its friggen snowing and raining. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

If the weather ever clears up I'll try taking the high pressure line off and running it for a second to verify flow. Then take the return line off and verify flow through the box.

I really hope its not the box. Its good and tight, no leaks.

What is there in the box that could cause this? Valves? Or just a internal seal that is leaking? Or could it be some leftover paper towel that I shoved in there a while back?

A few years back, a desperate and young family member called me to help with their power steering. It was an Oldsmobile with the same kind of pump. After one new pump, there was no power steering. (It was just very weak before). He had already changed out the pump on his own before I got there. I figured he just didn't bleed it properly, but after several attempts, we finally wound up in the wrecking yard and got another gear box and installed it. It worked fine. After questioning him at considerable length, guess what? He had stuffed the hoses with paper towels while he was changing out the pump. We bled the hoses into a coffee can before bleeding the whole system. Best I can figure is that some of the towel pieces got in the gear box and stopped it up completely.

Well crap!

Does anyone know the insides of the box well enough to guess where the blockage might be? I mean, how exactly does the gear box work? I can see that there is a piston and a power valve inside. I'm just trying to figure out exactly where the paper towel could be stuck at.

Alright, since I replaced the pump TWICE, I decided the only thing left is the gear box. Its a stock toyota IFS box, along with a saginaw P series pump. (which I got ANOTHER new one just to be safe, thanks to the autozone lifetime warranty)

So, I put a different box on it. Guess what? STILL NO POWER STEERING. :mad3::mad3:

This is REALLY making me mad! :mad3::mad3:

Here are some observations I made, maybe you can give me some suggestions on what to do next.....

First off, my neighbor has my jack so I couldnt jack the truck up and turn the wheels.

I topped off the pump with ATF. Fired the truck up. No power steering. Loosened the high pressure line at the box 3/4 of the way, no fluid coming out. The pump I have has 2 return lines, one is hooked to the box, the other one is capped off. I removed the cap, and fluid came out. After that, fluid started coming out of the line at the box. Sort of slowly though. Tightened the lines up, STILL no power steering.

Removed the low pressure line at the box, and fluid sprayed out of the line coming out of the box. Sprayed maybe 3 or 4 inches high, not real high pressure.

Loosened the freeplay adjuster bolt on top of the box. Couldnt get the screw to stay put, so the screw backed out along with the nut. No fluid flowing from under the bolt. The washer was flopping around but nice and dry.

This is a LATE model box, different from the early model box that came stock. I diddnt see a bleeder like I've seen pictures of on other late model boxes. I did see a big allen socket head plug screw on the side of the box that is not there on my early model box. Is this a bleeder?

Now, one thing that stayed the same between all the pumps is the fitting that screws into the back of the pump and the line screws into it. There are 2 different styles, one for an o-ringed line, and one for a flared line. I have the older flared style. I took the old fitting out of the stock pump and put it in the new pump from autozone. Could this fitting be bad? Does it do anything besides accept the hose? Its not some kind of valve, is it?

PLEASE HELP! I cant take this thing wheeling without power steering.

I got a jack and jacked the front end up, and turned the wheels lock to lock a bunch of times, and still nothing.

I can only think that I have the wrong pump. It has 2 return lines. I plugged one of them. I think this pump was designed for a hydroboost setup. Maybe its setup differently and wont work with non hydroboost. Tomorrow I'm going to make a Y fitting and connect both return lines. If that doesnt work, I'll get a regular pump with one return line.

Does it make any difference if you rev the engine while turning the wheel? If it does , the pump could be insufficient.

I just got done troubleshooting a Massey tractor with weak steering. Ended up a metal "T" fitting had broken and instead of being replaced with a new one , some BEM braised it back together. They fixed the leak but the braising material is blocking the flow due to it being on the inside of the tube also.

Nope, I tried revving the engine and nothing. The fluid doesnt move in the pump. I can see it just sitting there, even when someone is in the cab turning the wheels.

Lines are clear, I blew through them to make sure.

I have a different style pump on its way at AutZone. I should be able to install it tomorrow, and try again. IF that doesnt work, I'm going to go CRAZY.

FINALLY! I HAVE POWER STEERING! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I guess I had the wrong pump. I figured it would work, but it diddnt. I switched to a regular pump with one return and one pressure, and it works!

So now I'm that much closer to hitting the trails. Next I have to get my wheels balanced. They vibrate like a mofo.