I think I've seen a few posts on here about bad power steering pumps. I'm on I think my 3rd, maybe even 4th pump. None of them really seemed to keep up to the point that the braking was even affected.

I did some research and found that there is a high flow valve that should have been installed for the H2, Escalade's, etc. So I ordered GM# 26095470 from Rockauto and installed it today.

All I can say is what a night and day difference. My steering wheel used to whine and gurgle at slow speeds and sometimes at an idle I had no power steering at all. All fixed thanks to this silly sub $20 part. Install was pretty easy, dropped the belly pan, removed the lower power steering pump hose, removed the 1" fitting, took out the old and installed the new. Also check to make sure the 1" fitting has a fluid passage hole greater than 5/32. Mine was fine but I read that some of them have smaller holes, reducing flow. The new valve has slightly larger office holes in it but I don't know the internal workings of it.

I'd recommend this to anyone who has a new pump that's just not quite right.

Easy directions can be found here: Modifying your Power Steering Pump - GM Truck Central

Tim

 

Interesting article. I suppose if you change your original PS pump out, you could just swap the valve that came with the OEM pump.

Thanks for posting that.

 

Yes, it would have saved me a few pumps had I only known.

Tim

 

Parts in hand I am going to do this today if I feel ambitious....