Astro Van Brake & Steering loss

Chris had the answer on this one, bear with me and I'll post it the link.

https://www.2carpros.com/forum/violent-shaking-vp49409.html?highlight=#49409

I was thinking of different one maybe...I can't find what I was lookng for, bur I recalled having to check the pressure of the ps system. Sorry.

Is that no pedal or hard pedal.

It is hard pedal. Absolutly no power assist at all. Same with the power steering. Braking and steering still work, it is just very hard. The two systems seem to be linked. The P.S. resovoir is located on the firewall, one line goes to the pump and the other to the master cylander.
It has been below freezing for about a week now and the P.S. fluid is still liquid, no sign of freezing or moisture.
I just hope that the internals of the pump are shot, but i cant open it to find out.
Going to try a used unit first to see if that works.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Kenvcr

I am having same problems. No power assitance at all.Problem start with broken shaft in pump so I replaced with used one still having same problem. MY question is are the power steering pumps continuos flow or demand flow.

Depending on what year you have, mine is a 92. The flow should be continuos. From the resovoir to the pump, through the pump to the steering box, from the steering box up to the vacuum booster, through the booster then return to the resovoir. There is also one more line that i would assume that under idle would be a bypass line to constantly provide fluid.

I have replaced the vacuum booster with a junk yard one ($220.00) 3 month warranty. I am repl;acing the pump on Sat morn. My Vac booster and pump both failed at the same time. Very starnge and a very stupid system.
Over the last week i have also noticed that the steering box is not being lubed properly. (dry scraping noise while turning)
Once the parts are in you must start your van and run it till warm. Jack the front wheels off the ground and then start turning them side to side 100% each way about 20 or so times. This will bleed out any air in the system.
Good luck,
Let me know what you find out and i will do the same on Sat when the pump is installed.
Kenvcr

I got brave and tore apart the used pump to see why it would not work. The piece on the opposite end of the shaft from the pulley was slotted and had metal tabs in the slots my problem was these tabs were frozen-up. I freed these up and lubricated them generously and reassembled pump and reinstalled on motor. Started van and everything worked smoothly and easily. Mean while wifey knowing my temper snuck out and bought new pump ha ha i won this time.P.S. our van was not equipt with a vaccum booster it has a hydro booster which in my opinion is one of gm's poorer setups .Loss of pump means loss of steering and loss of brake assistance. Not a smarter idea.

Very adventerous of you.... :D The hydro-boost system was engineered to be of use in a low vacuum situation (towing,after hard acceleration, pulling a long grade) It was as usual the wrong execution of the right idea.But if tech's built and designed cars we would all be out of work! Great find and fix by the way