Brakes making PS pump whine

Askaggs417

New member
Jul 11, 2025
10
5
3
Yuma AZ
Did a search on the forum and couldnt really find what I was looking for.

2002 3500 DRW.

New to me truck. Found a ton of power steering fluid under the booster and the PS pump. No whine from steering when I got it. Little bit of a moan when applying brakes.

I decided to replace the PS pump with a reman from autozone. Currently waiting on the new booster.

Bled the system. Turned the dang wheel and pressed the brakes for an hour and a half, engine off, front jacked up. No bubbles. Fluid wasn’t dropping. I could hear gurgling when getting to the steering lock but figured it was just the return line spitting fluid back into the reservoir.

Cranked the truck on. Pressed the brakes and could immediately hear the PS pump whining. Then whining with steering. The brakes work fine and the steering feels normal. Just the loud whine.

Bad steering pump? They only had a trugrade in stock so I bought that. Not strong enough? At a loss right now.
 

Ron Nielson

Active member
Oct 11, 2009
926
231
43
Berryton, KS

Attachments

  • Power Steer Bleed.pdf
    3.8 MB · Views: 7

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
23,036
8,051
113
Phoenix Az
Well, considering the booster is bad it can cause a whine like that too from the pump. You need to get that fixed before condemning the pump.

The problem is you’re buying some parts that are gonna cause you more headaches down the road. Our Shop will not install any Hydro boosters other than factory GM ones in these trucks anymore due to the failure rate of all the reman aftermarket ones out there. I have changed three Hydro boost in one day all within an hour of themselves, personally.

Pumps are hit or miss. I have an O’Reillys in my truck currently just because that’s all I could get my hands on in a pinch. So far so good but they can sometimes have pressure issues.

So at this point, I would leave the pump in there that you have and I would cancel my order with AutoZone and go get a factory OE one from either rock auto or from the dealer or upgrade to a 2011 to a 2016 brake booster. Jack the tires off the ground, spin the steering wheel back-and-forth left and right while also pumping your brakes and keep re-checking the power steering level until it quits dropping down. Then fired up and worked the steering wheel left to right and back while pumping the brakes again multiple times Until fluid level quits dropping and let it sit so that all the aerated power steering fluid can settle down. then go take it for a drive and see what happens.
 

Askaggs417

New member
Jul 11, 2025
10
5
3
Yuma AZ
It's difficult to find a good power steering pump at a parts store.


I would pick the GM OEM at the bottom of the list. The attachment has an excellent bleeding procedure.
Hey another method to try. I just bought the PSC pump kit with the pressure lines. Only missing the return line from the gearbox to the pump, just ordered that to the parts store. As thorough as I was with my procedure I know there is no air in the system. Has to just be a junk pump. Disheartening after the 30 minute install and 1.5hr of turning the wheel.
 

Askaggs417

New member
Jul 11, 2025
10
5
3
Yuma AZ
Well, considering the booster is bad it can cause a whine like that too from the pump. You need to get that fixed before condemning the pump.

The problem is you’re buying some parts that are gonna cause you more headaches down the road. Our Shop will not install any Hydro boosters other than factory GM ones in these trucks anymore due to the failure rate of all the reman aftermarket ones out there. I have changed three Hydro boost in one day all within an hour of themselves, personally.

Pumps are hit or miss. I have an O’Reillys in my truck currently just because that’s all I could get my hands on in a pinch. So far so good but they can sometimes have pressure issues.

So at this point, I would leave the pump in there that you have and I would cancel my order with AutoZone and go get a factory OE one from either rock auto or from the dealer or upgrade to a 2011 to a 2016 brake booster. Jack the tires off the ground, spin the steering wheel back-and-forth left and right while also pumping your brakes and keep re-checking the power steering level until it quits dropping down. Then fired up and worked the steering wheel left to right and back while pumping the brakes again multiple times Until fluid level quits dropping and let it sit so that all the aerated power steering fluid can settle down. then go take it for a drive and see what happens

Well, considering the booster is bad it can cause a whine like that too from the pump. You need to get that fixed before condemning the pump.

The problem is you’re buying some parts that are gonna cause you more headaches down the road. Our Shop will not install any Hydro boosters other than factory GM ones in these trucks anymore due to the failure rate of all the reman aftermarket ones out there. I have changed three Hydro boost in one day all within an hour of themselves, personally.

Pumps are hit or miss. I have an O’Reillys in my truck currently just because that’s all I could get my hands on in a pinch. So far so good but they can sometimes have pressure issues.

So at this point, I would leave the pump in there that you have and I would cancel my order with AutoZone and go get a factory OE one from either rock auto or from the dealer or upgrade to a 2011 to a 2016 brake booster. Jack the tires off the ground, spin the steering wheel back-and-forth left and right while also pumping your brakes and keep re-checking the power steering level until it quits dropping down. Then fired up and worked the steering wheel left to right and back while pumping the brakes again multiple times Until fluid level quits dropping and let it sit so that all the aerated power steering fluid can settle down. then go take it for a drive and see what happens.
That too. My only thing is…the noise really started after installing the “new” pump. Even though the booster was leaking, the system was running fine with no noise. Returning the pump once the PSC arrives. Luckily I didn’t order a booster from the parts store. Ordered a rebuild kit. Should only take me 30 mins to replace the seals while I’m already doing the pump. If that seal kit doesn’t hold then I’m upgrading to the 2011. Buddy at work just told me today he just put one in but was skeptical of what he heard online…turns out it’s true and his. Taking is a lot better.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
23,036
8,051
113
Phoenix Az
Yeah, sounds like a bad pump then. the only reason I’m saying it could still be the booster is the fact that you said that the system would moan prior to you doing the pump.

You may have to modify the brake switch just a little bit. Some trucks need a little modification, some trucks don’t
 

Askaggs417

New member
Jul 11, 2025
10
5
3
Yuma AZ
Yeah, sounds like a bad pump then. the only reason I’m saying it could still be the booster is the fact that you said that the system would moan prior to you doing the pump.

You may have to modify the brake switch just a little bit. Some trucks need a little modification, some trucks don’t
Totally makes sense. It was really intermittent and I couldn’t tell what it was or where it was coming from. Made it really apparent when I changed the pump. Regardless I’m servicing the entire system. New pressure lines, new pump and rebuilt booster. If the accumulator was shot I probably would have just bought a new one.

Buddy said he’ll give me the drill bit he used. Some odd measurement I never thought would be a measurement for a drill bit.
 

Askaggs417

New member
Jul 11, 2025
10
5
3
Yuma AZ
@Ron Nielson that bleed procedure you sent was a breeze, can’t thank you enough for the info. Bought a PSC pump. Came with new lines. Rebuilt the hydroboost with the 15 dollar kit on Amazon. We’ll see how long it lasts. Pulled the master cylinder off, seperated the hydroboost and pulled it so I didn’t have to deal with the brake pedal or removing anything from the firewall. Took maybe 30 minutes to bleed. Zero noise. Back to easy turning and quiet braking.