C2 power steering issue...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 382
From: Freehold NJ
C2 power steering issue...
I have a problem on my '64 - when I turn the steering wheel all the way to the right everything is fine - you can turn it all the way to the right and back with one finger. When I turn the wheel all the way to the left, however, it seems fine almost all the way thru it's travel but then just before it stops the steering jams to the left. It's hard to describe, but it feel like a hydraulic problem. Once this happens it will stay jammed in the locked-to-the-left position until you grab the wheel with both hands and force it to the right. As soon as you force the wheel just a bit to the right it frees up and feels totally fine. You can drive the car all day and the steering will feel absolutely fine as long as you don't turn the wheel all the way to the left (like you might if you were parallel parking or making a u-turn). Nothing is binding in the steering linkage & I have adjusted the control valve several times. Everything works fine with engine off. I'm assuming it has to be the control valve, but I guess it could also be the cylinder. I'd hate to guess on something like this... Anyone else ever experienced this???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
I have a problem on my '64 - when I turn the steering wheel all the way to the right everything is fine - you can turn it all the way to the right and back with one finger. When I turn the wheel all the way to the left, however, it seems fine almost all the way thru it's travel but then just before it stops the steering jams to the left. It's hard to describe, but it feel like a hydraulic problem. Once this happens it will stay jammed in the locked-to-the-left position until you grab the wheel with both hands and force it to the right. As soon as you force the wheel just a bit to the right it frees up and feels totally fine. You can drive the car all day and the steering will feel absolutely fine as long as you don't turn the wheel all the way to the left (like you might if you were parallel parking or making a u-turn). Nothing is binding in the steering linkage & I have adjusted the control valve several times. Everything works fine with engine off. I'm assuming it has to be the control valve, but I guess it could also be the cylinder. I'd hate to guess on something like this... Anyone else ever experienced this???
Last edited by wombvette; Apr 2, 2015 at 12:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 382
From: Freehold NJ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 382
From: Freehold NJ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 382
From: Freehold NJ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 382
From: Freehold NJ
I know its an old thread but another member just messaged me to ask if I'd ever resolved this issue so I figured I'd come back and update in case someone else was also researching the same issue. It took me a bit to figure it out and I must not have updated here but I've since heard of a few others with the same problem as well...
The power steering control valve was getting stuck in one direction. Basically the stud that goes to the pitman arm slides side to side in the control valve housing and thats what directs the hydraulic assistance in the system. I suspect someone used a tie-rod separator at some point in the cars life and damaged the housing causing it to jam when I would turn left and that would basically fool the system into supplying full power to the left. I had another old leaky control valve which I rebuilt myself and that cured it.
The power steering control valve was getting stuck in one direction. Basically the stud that goes to the pitman arm slides side to side in the control valve housing and thats what directs the hydraulic assistance in the system. I suspect someone used a tie-rod separator at some point in the cars life and damaged the housing causing it to jam when I would turn left and that would basically fool the system into supplying full power to the left. I had another old leaky control valve which I rebuilt myself and that cured it.
Last edited by BD104X; May 13, 2020 at 02:35 PM.
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