Without checking pressures it's a guessing game. Is it 2wd?

 

I suspect you still have air in the system, when you mentioned "turned the engine on the power steering fluid would pump out very fast", where was the fluid pumping out of?

 

This is an excellent reference for steering pumps and procedures

 

There are several methods for bleeding the powersteering pump fluid. I have always used two people, one monitoring the pump fluid level and the other inside the cab. Engine off, fill the ps pump reservoir to it proper cold level, cab person presses the brake pedal ~15 times, then gently moving the steering wheel full right and then full left about 15~20 times (front wheels off the ground), all the while monitoring the bubbles and fluid level in the reservoir and repeat (although a repeat is not likely needed, I just prefer to do a repeat). Once completed, I follow as what is documented in the pdf above from Ron however, I haven't ever seen a lot of bubbles or need for more fluid after using the engine off procedure, but seeing how there could be, I would also follow up with an engine on procedure as well.

 

Thanks for the replies, truck is 4wd.

I had taken the drain hose to the power steering reservoir off and routed it to a drain pan to get the old fluid out and enter new fluid into the system, never letting the reservoir go dry, but that would take like 3 seconds of the engine running and it would pump out fast so i didnt have time to turn the wheels and hit the brakes.

Today i have jacked the front up, and put it on jack stands, with the front wheels off the ground, Engine running or not, i can turn the wheel all the way to the left or right and there are no noises or funky behavior present.

 

One item I noted to myself earlier and a question to ask, is this a new vehicle for you or have you had it for a while and this behaviour just started? The reason I ask is because you mentioned that you are not sure if this behavior is normal. My experience, haven driven multiple Chev Duramax trucks in the age range of 2000~2010 is that it is normal for when driving that the power steering and brakes are as you stated as great however, if your truck is not rolling at least a small amount (also means very low engine rpm) and then you try to turn to the left or right you can easily outrun the power steering pump's ability and when that happens, the steering gets hard and the brakes lose some of the power aspect that the power steering pump provides. If you try turning the steering wheel left and right slowly then the ability to turn the steering wheel should be under power and nice and smooth and with a little rolling of the tires you can then turn the steering wheel as fast as you like. Point being, it is hard to know if there is an issue which there could be however, it is not un-normal in a stopped position, brakes on, low engine and ps pump rpm, and then turning the steering wheel relatively quickly left or right, will result in some in losing some of the power steering and brakes and even along with a bit of power steering pump sound is common.

This happens on my 2003 2500hd as well, what I do is turn the wheel a bit more slowly if I ever have to turn much while stopped but I rarely ever do that so as I always to have at least a little bit of tire rolling, even just an inch per every ~2 seconds makes all the difference.

 

Thank you guys for the replies, the steering has gotten much better now that ive flushed the power steering fluid, and brake fluid. Id like to flush the power steering fluid again, just because i feel it will help.

Bumblebug, thank you for your input, your description of how the truck should drive is pretty nail on the head on how this truck drives, i think it really jus needs fluids flushed.

This truck was my father in laws, and i have kind of taken it over, but really trying to get it 100% for him.

One thing i do notice is if i steer hard left when i go to return the steering wheel back to straight, right as i let off hard left on the wheel i get a loud hum sound, which seems like it coming from behind the dash where the steering wheel is, so im wondering if the hydro boost is on its way out? Although that noise has subsided a lot and is almost not there anymore after the flush of power steering and brake fluid.

 

The hum you hear\heard from the dash is likely related to the HB as it is somewhat attached to the firewall and the brake pedal itself which can transfer the sound into the area you hear it from. If the sound was louder and now not, then I suspect that there was a little air still working its way out of the system and wouldn't be all that concerned as long as it doesn't start sounding louder.