Steering Column Repair: POWER STEERING, gmc stepside, hose connections

Question
The power steering went out on my son's 1985 GMC stepside.  What should I check first to ensure that the pump is bad or should I look at something else?

Answer
Hello Del,
Look for leakage on and around the pump. A pump, under normal use doesn't "wear out" prematurely. Seals will go before the actual pump does. Yet before that, the hoses will begin to seep. Pumps usually wont fail unless they run out of fluid. Which takes us back to the seals and the hoses. Check for leaks and seepage on the pump behind the pulley and at the hose connections. Check the two hoses from the pump to the steering box. If you see wetness, it's seeping. If you see fluid, it's leaking. Both can cause the pump to be run dry. I've seen these pump run low on fluid for a short period and still function OK. But not when it's run for an extended amount of time.

Hope that helps.
Have a great day!
-Jay