My dads 98 chevy trucks (5.7 vortec)power steering does this weird thing where when you are in the middle of a turn it seems to give up for a split second. It gives up for enough time that you swing out a few feet in the turn and then it kicks back in and starts doing what it is supposed to. It doesn't do it everytime just occasionally. It does it on both sides. Could it just need new fluid? or is there something else that may be causing this?
thanks for any info

tighten the belt

if it's a serpentine belt (probably is) it probably needs a new one

Some of the conditions that can cause this are low oil level, sticky flow control valve,faulty gear releif valve and a loose belt. A loose belt can be caused by a bad tensioner.
Some of the high end trucks in 98 came with speed sensitve steering. There is a sensor mounted on the column under the dash that somehow controls the amount of pressure the pump puts out. If there are wires attached to the power steering pump it is equipped with speed sensitive steering.