Lexus Repair: Steering, power steering pump, vacuum switch

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Bought used 1996 ES300; power steering pump was replaced just prior; all worked fine. Now, when applying brake, steering effort increase drasticall (as if there was no power steering). Cause? Soultion?
Answer -
Hello, Well the first thing I would do is check the brake pad condition then maybe bleed the brake system for possible air.
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Followup Question:

Thanks. But the brakes are working fine....no squeal, no soft pedal. Brake pad condition was checked as part of the mandatory MD Inspection.....how can the brake system affect the steering assist?....I have never seen this before.

Answer
Sorry Michael didn't read your question right. There is a vacuum switch that effects the p/s pump pressure out put. The power brakes also work off of vacuum. So that is how the can be effected by one another. This is not common so I would start by checking the vacuum hosses to both areas.