HELP!! Power steering woes!

[CHMIII]

Hello all - I need the help of the vast experience & knowledge out there. I've got a '98 GMC Burb, and I think that the flow actuator valve that attaches to the P/S pump has gone bad. Trouble is, GM has discontinued this part , and '99 and later won't fit. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions (besides "buy a new truck" - both my parents and in-laws have already voiced that one...)

Thanks in advance - CHM III

 

[colbystephens]

have you tried parts stores? i'm not familiar w/ that pump, but pumps are still being made and re-manned for my 6.2, and a ton of parts for that thing have been discontinued from GM.

 

[CHMIII]

I'm not doing the work myself, but when my mechanic called his usual part suppliers, they told him that this valve is (was?) a dealer-only part. In other words, the usual suspects (Car Quest, Auto Zone, et al.) have never carried it. Unfortunately, it doesn't come attached to a replacement pump.

I haven't tried the parts stores myself, but I've searched the web pretty throroughly and haven't had much luck. I've seen only a couple of references to the valve in forums, and zero hits on anybody selling one. I know that the junkyard is always an option, but this truck is my wife's daily driver and I hate to trust something like this to a part whose condition can't be verified.

(Edit) BTW - I'm willing to bet that this "soccer-mom 4x2" truck gets subjected to far more abuse than just about any off-roading rig: 6 kids, 2 huskies, and 96K miles in 4 years...

 

[colbystephens]

bummer, don't know what to tell you then.

BTW - I've seen front wheel drive ford station wagons accept the same abuse. doesn't make it a truck. you're aware that the soccer mom thing is my signature - not something i specifically directed at you, right? it's under every single one of my posts. i won't go into details about what it really means...