Power steering i have a 2002 dodge dakota with only 49000 miles when i drive it for 10 miles the steering wheel gets hard and makes a noise when you turn the wheel. i open the hood the power steering fluid comes out and gets all over my engine. i changed the power steering more then 2 times and same thing happens they to me i have to change the rack and pinon. what should i do.

Sounds like a wheel bearing assembly failing.

if no other pulley is driven by the belt you can.steering will be hard though especially when vehicle is stationary

does it make noise when turning ? when installing new power steering pump with both front tires in air on jack stands or jacks start and fully steer right fully steer left repeat a couple times and shut off now pump is bled place on ground and test....by turning take a drive....

YOU HAVE AIR IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM.YOU NEED TO BLEED POWER STEERING PUMP FIRST BEFORE DRIVING VECHICLE.CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL ADD MORE POWER STEERING UNTIL REACH FULL COLD MARK..RAISE VECHICLE FRONT WHEELS OFF THE GROUND.START ENGINE LET IT IDLE WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT NON STOP DONT LOCK OR STOP STEERING WHEEL KEEP TURNING IT SEVERAL TIMES CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID IF LOW ADD UNTIL YOU GET COLD MARK ON DIP STICK DONT OVER FILL POWER STEERING PUMP BLOW A SEAL.IF POWER STEERING FLUID LOOK TAN COLOR SYSTEM FULL OF AIR.TURN OFF IGNITION LET CAR SET FOR A WHILE CHECK FLUID LEVEL.IF STEERING WHEEL FEEL STIFF HARD TURNING DONT DRIVE CAR UNTIL YOU HAVE NORMAL STEERING.IF STILL HAVE AIR IN SYSTEM BLEED SYSTEM UNTIL AIR IS OUT.

the clue you gave was that there is no noise when turning the steering wheel.........do i need say more.......

I'd guess wheel bearing is bad.

A Dodge Dakota with 4-wheel steer? Do you happen to mean 4-wheel drive?

If so, you should not operate the vehicle in 4-wheel drive when you are traveling on a hard, high-traction surface. When in 4x4, the transfer case connects the front and rear axles, and does not allow for differentiation of wheel speeds necessary when turning. This is compensated for when driving over low-traction terrain because the tires slip easier.

Basically, the jerking, bucking and locking of the truck is due to the binding. This will eventually lead to damage in the driveline. If the roadway isn't covered in snow, there is no need for the 4 wheel drive to be engaged.

If its in 4WD thats normal. On hard, dry, pavement its binding up because the front wheels and the rear wheels are turning at different speeds.

the power steer pump is faulty

Make sure the fluid level is OK, if reservoir MT ad, with out the cap till air comes out and fluid gets in to system, turn the steering right to left wile You add fluid with cap off, till fluid is not longer going down and reservoir inside gets quiet, when fluid level is OK, put cap back and try it, if system did not recovered normality and loud noise comes from the pump, pump needs replacing, if steering is steel hard, no noise comes from pump, look a steering box or steering arms, if truck has Rakenpinon, look for broken boots, pit man arm