I need to know the difference between hydroboost, and conventional power steering pressure lines on a 2001 Caddilac Seville.

Your suburban uses power steering pressure for your brake assist. This system is called "hydroboost". There is a problem with either your power steering pump or lines.

I think that van has "hydroboost" brake assist instead of vacuum powered assist. Hydroboost uses pressure from the power steering pump to assist the brakes. However, I am unsure where the problem is. It could be a leak in the hydroboost itself, a leak in the line, a bad pump, or as easy as low power steering fluid.

This sounds like the hydroboost unit is leaking.behind the master cylinderThe braking system on this using the power steering pump to provide power assisted brakes instead of a brake booster. The hydroboost unit most likely needs replaced.

The brakes and the Power Steering are two different systems and two different problems. The brake problem is going to be a caliper or master cylinder issue which maybe a Vacuum issue if the Power Booster hose is leaking or disconnected from the master cylinder. The power steering is going to be low fluid in the power steering pump, faulty power steering pump (Obvious if you were hearing a whine that got louder as you turned the wheels, or the Power assist piston that connects to the tie rods.

what you describe sounds like your hydroboost unit and if it is leaking you need to buy a new or rebuilt one. They are pretty easy to replace.

yes there are a few different lines to the power steering system

diesels do not have conventional vacuum operated brake boosters. i am not sure what chrysler calls there system, but i believe it is similar to the gm hydroboost system, in which case pressure is created by a pump integral to the power steering pump gives you your assist, and fed to an accumulator on the fluid booster near the master. be very careful when tinkering when these systems, as they can have very high pressures in them even when the car is not running. are you experiencing any steering issues at the same time? check your fluid levels (PS fluid will effect operation) and all the associated hoses and lines, go from there. good luck!

It could be any thing from the alternator to the Power steering pump. The power steering pump feeds the hydro boost unit. It is unlikely the hydroboost is causing the noise. I recomend you take it to the dealer and have them perform the proper diagnostics as they will have the proper pressure gauges and equipment needed to perform the tests.

I hope this helps.

Roy

you need to have a pulley puller to get the pulley off if you don't have one most auto zone part stores have a loan a tool program and they can help you with that on most powersteering pumps the high pressure line will be a fitting or bolt on and the return line is usually just a squeeze clamp hope this helps good luck

Check to see if the power steering reservoir is full and the belt is intact.I'm assuming that you have a hydroboost unit where the p/s works the brake booster. If those are ok you could have a bad p/s pump