1.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
102,856 miles

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problem #1

Mar 042006

Suburban 8-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,856 miles
I have lost steering and braking on 1996 6.5 turbo diesel Suburban three times now I drive normally. I am 42 and have a family of seven. When braking the power booster has zero pressure and it is very hard to stop and at the very same time all power steering is lost. I thought the power steering pump failed, so I replaced it, no change. Still no power brakes or steering. I replaced hydroboost unit braking and steering returned. I have had to replace hydroboost three times in 8 months. I completely removed the solenoid magnet from the power steering pump to test if the power steering pump causes the hydro boost unit to fail, I did this between hydro unit 1 an 2, I reinstalled magnet between unit 2 and 3 the first time I lost braking and steering there was no warning, I went to stop and had hard, non power brakes and no power steering. The second, third time I knew to replace the hydroboost unit, when braking and turning the steering gets hard or the brakes get hard, then I replace the hydroboost unit, brake and steering return to normal I completely flushed the power steering fluid each time into a clean bucket, no big particles or hose material. This braking system is dangerous, imagine driving down a winding two lane steep downhill mountain road, with a heavy Suburban and you loose steering and brakes I turned in the original parts as cores to get my money back.

- Riverside, CA, USA