A buddy of mine has a 2001 dodge Dakota 4.7 with the 5 speed and 285/75/16 buckshots, my question is why dioes he keep going threw power steering pumps like he does, he doesent go mudding with it just drives it, in theyear he has had it he has put 5 pumps on it, and he is getting tired of it, n e opinions?

How do they fail? Leak fluid, no pumping of the fluid, make alot of noise? If he has put that many pumps own it I kind'a doubt the pump is at fault. May be a bad rack and pinion or a belt thats to tight or overspeeding the pump, it is a stick shift. Ask him more ?'s maybe we can help.

Yes its a stick shift, whenever it went out the first time he was on his girlfriends land and hit a 4 foot ditch and sunk it, first one, second one was turnin hard and it quit, third he cut a donut on the rock road and it went, and thats the ones i member, trhe dodge plaze says the power steering fluid is to thick but there has 2 be something else, any help appreciated

im having the same kind of problems only not as bad, im still on my first pump, mine is an 03 with the 4.7, 5 speed, and 285/75 bfg at's. about a week ago i lost my power steering and then my belt ripped. the grooves in the pulley for the power steering were worn down but the pulley still spun freely. so i just replaced the pulley but i still hear a noise from the pump when turning the wheel while not moving. also when turning real sharp and quickly sometimes i feel more resistance like there is no power steering. i'm guessing my problem is different but any ideas would be appreciated.

Well the best I can say for this is that you guys should flush the system THUROUGHLY! I spent about 45min cleaning the resvoire alone (I bought a napa pump). The ones from dodge that costs 380$ come with a new res. And dont forget to clean the lines and flush the old fluid out of the rack.