Major steering issue. Please help

[SlicksInRain]

Here is what happened before and happened again. I started up my 90 K5. let it run for 30 seconds (I drove it a few hours earlier) and as soon as I went to pull it out of the parking space the power steering wasn't working. It worked soon later after I turned into an alley and then the issue came back. The steering will be very unresponsive to the steering wheel.

I will turn the wheel to get the truck straight, but it won't stay straight. It will jerk to the left or to the right. At times I will have to have the wheel turned half way to the left to keep it straight and then all of the sudden if I turn it far enough it will go to the left as if I jerked the wheel half way over.

This problem was solved when a right side outer tie rod was replaced. It was fine for a week and a half until the power steering give me this issue. I was told the power steering pump an issue before and it leaks, but if that was the case I would think the power steering wouldn't work at all.

Is the pump the simple issue or is this something else? I am really in the dark on this one. Anything you throw at me is great.

Thanks.

 

[K5dreamer]

power steering pump would be a good starting place. what youre experiencing would be called an ittermittant failure. im not well versed enough in hydraulic systems to tell you exactly whats wrong, but its not an expensive repair, i paid the dealership to do it cuz i didnt want to deal with ripping the front of my engine apart. if you did it yourself it would be pretty cheap.

 

[73k5blazer]

Kinda sounds like a power steering pump to me. Easy to replace.
Have you check your fluid level? Perhaps your just low? (fat chance!)

But the wheel is still permanently connected to the gear, if you turn it, with or without a working pump, it should turn the wheels, if it's truely the case where you turn the wheel and the tires aren't turning, you've got other MAJOR issues that I would check.
Get a buddy over to turn the steering wheel while you watch what's happening down below, a problem like this if that's really happening would be easy to spot.