power steering conversion help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
power steering conversion help
just finished my borgeson ps conversion. all happy, ready for the test drive. Go for a short drive and - what gives, no power steering. just like manual. Ok, leave the vette in the driveway while I do other chores. Then I go to drive the vette back into the garage and "it works"! So I decide, ok, going to drive around the block, and by the time I get back home, its back to its manual self. I check all belts, hoses, etc, and all is in order. PS fluid is almost to the full level. What could it be????
Please help. What should I check?
Gary
Please help. What should I check?
Gary
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
just did mine 2 weeks ago, you need to turn the wheels from stop to stop a few times with tires off the ground and check the level of ps fluid, repeat after topping up the level a couple of times till the fluid level remains constant, did you use the recommended fluid?
Last edited by vt65; Apr 28, 2010 at 11:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,419
Likes: 8,872
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Her car sees conditions you couldn't possibly be duplicating by just driving around the block. But overheated fluid is sure what it sounds like.
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,818
Likes: 13
From: ar
Gary I run that box on 3 of my cars and have never experienced anything like that. I don't know if fluid makes a difference, but I always use a quality power steering specific fluid from the parts store.
I am with Jim, it sounds like a heat problem.
Jeff
I am with Jim, it sounds like a heat problem.
Jeff
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
no standard p/s fluid is what i used also, only difference is i got GM fluid from the dealership....is this happening after the car warms up? I did add some casing to protect my p/s line from my headers http://img20.imageshack.us/i/april2010vetpics010.jpg/ http://img638.imageshack.us/i/april2010vetpics008.jpg/
Last edited by vt65; Apr 29, 2010 at 05:05 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
no standard p/s fluid is what i used also, only difference is i got GM fluid from the dealership....is this happening after the car warms up? I did add some casing to protect my p/s line from my headers http://img20.imageshack.us/i/april2010vetpics010.jpg/ http://img638.imageshack.us/i/april2010vetpics008.jpg/
Gary
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Minden NV
I suspect your power steering pump pressure relief valve is stuck open. The hex nut that your pressure side hose is threaded into holds a spring and a valve, as I remember. If you took your pressure hose off and removed the big nut that it is screwed in to, as I remember it needing a one inch wrench, I suspect it has some foreign debris stuck under the valve.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
The fittings on the hoses are unique, and only fit one way. The pressure hose on the pump routes to the fitting on the box furthest from the firewall, which is the larger of the 2 fittings. The fitting on the box closest to the firewall routes to the steering pump inlet nipple.
Gary
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,582
Likes: 150
From: York PA
Gary, why not call the dealer/mfg. of which system you purchased and ask them what might be wrong. There is a good chance through experience that they have had customers run into this before and can supply a likable cause. It's worth a try 
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,142
Likes: 24
From: Simcoe Ontario
that was my next suggestion...call Borgeson's
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
I suspect your power steering pump pressure relief valve is stuck open. The hex nut that your pressure side hose is threaded into holds a spring and a valve, as I remember. If you took your pressure hose off and removed the big nut that it is screwed in to, as I remember it needing a one inch wrench, I suspect it has some foreign debris stuck under the valve.
Ok, I removed the nut, and the innards, and this is what I have
i'm not quite understanding how the fluid gets past the first fitting. There is a tiny filter at the bottom of the first fitting. I tried blowing into it, and nothing. I also tried loosening the small nut at this filter, but it wouldn't budge, and didn't want to force it. Anyone know if this is how it is supposed to be? Didn't come across any kind of debris. When you stay stuck open, the spring was forcing the first fitting into the second fitting, again not sure if this would be in the open position or not.
gary
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 859
Likes: 53
From: Magnolia Texas
There is a spring that is missing in your photo. If it's not there, that would definitely result in weird things happening...
Here's a link that has a picture of the assembly...
http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.co...rsteering.html
Did you just leave the spring out of the picture?
Steve
Here's a link that has a picture of the assembly...
http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.co...rsteering.html
Did you just leave the spring out of the picture?
Steve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
There is a spring that is missing in your photo. If it's not there, that would definitely result in weird things happening...
Here's a link that has a picture of the assembly...
http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.co...rsteering.html
Did you just leave the spring out of the picture?
Steve
Here's a link that has a picture of the assembly...
http://westtexasoffroad.homestead.co...rsteering.html
Did you just leave the spring out of the picture?
Steve
yes, the spring is there, just not in the picture
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC
I just thought I should close off this thread and explain the final results. I went down to the local GM dealer, paid $8 qt for ps fluid, flushed the old stuff, added new stuff, and what do you know, it now works. I guess this is one of those times the extra $ was well worth it! Thanks all for your help. Will post a picture later of the car with the new 14" Grant steering wheel ($100)
Gary
Gary