I have a 97 LSS that is extremely hard to steer at low speeds. The steering pump fluid is good and I haven't had to add any. There is a groan at low speed or idle and I'm just trying to determine if it'* a bad pump or a steering rack or I've even heard possibly a bad speed sensor. Is there any easy way to determine which unit failed without just replacing things one at a time?

did u check to see if maybe pump is full of air somewhere in its lines?

Is there an easy way to do this? The fluid level is right where it should be and I have not had to add any. Would I see air bubbles if I remove the cap and turn the wheel back and forth?

If u have someone steer back and forth while looking inside u should see white foam(basically lots of tiny bubbles), but it might take a while to start seing them, the air could be traps in rackand pinion itself( did anyone replaced it?). As for the groan, usually it'* pump gears sound due to lack of lube (air in it) or it migh not be in it anymore but the damage might of been done already.

Ok thanks I'll take a look. The rack (or any part of the steering) has never been replaced. Is there an easy way to get the air out of the system?

Try bleeding whole system. I usually do it the messy way but it works lol. Locate the power steering pump,disconnect low pressure line from it and place is into some can, I usually extend it to make it easier so it can be moved around, and plug the low press fitting on pump. Start car up and while someone turns wheels slowly keep watching level and keep adding fluid. The fluid will be getting pushed out into a can instead of pump, so ull need to be adding more to keep it full. Check specs on how much ur system holds, after adding about that into it, u can pretty much say u flushed old off of system alone w bibles of there any, then plug low pres back on it. U will have a little air prob in that hose while plugging but that will bubble out in min or so cause its right in pump. Now if after that I'd still have hard to turn prob and noice I'd think that damage was already done. The only thing I'd suggest is to add In pump some like Lucas power steering lube, it'll help lil, unless u want to change whole thing, and even then I won't guarantee that noice will go away, it might, usually it'* pump noise but sometimes it could be pinion and so on

I appreciate all the info. I'm hoping for a cheap fix. It'* hard to justify putting alot of $$ into it. Thanks again.

Np let me know how it works