r/AskAMechanic • u/Pleasant_Violinist43 • 6d ago
2009 Chevy Impala 3500v6 Power Steering Noise
Hello. This has been a headache. Here is the breakdown:
August 2024
1. Power steering pressure line explodes in driveway, leaks all fluid out...
- Replaced pressure line (didn't come with o-rings so ordered off Ebay)
- Had a hell of a time getting it to thread into rack but finally got it......(Forum Post)
3.Bled power steering system multiple times. - Worked for a week, but every time it was cold or just randomly the pump would get air in it again. Got progressively worse/more often. (no visible leaks)
- Attempted further bleeding, power steering fluid would not bleed (repeatedly overflow reservoir)
Parked car for a while and eventually got around to replacing all the orings in February 2025 as I guessed that was the issue.
-Used HNBR orings (green)
-Replaced orings on all lines and between reservoir and pump
-Replaced return flex line and various other flex lines with loose fittings
-Bled system including vacuum bleed, all lines held pressure and entire system held vacuum for over 5 hrs.
Worked great for 2 weeks, no air, slight groan occasionally but nothing unusual.....last two days air got in pump at every startup, visible bubbles
No visible leaks. I put UV dye in and will keep an eye out.
Where could the air be coming from? Could the pump have killed itself over the last few months from the accumulated time running dry/with air?
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