H E L P - Winter project gone bad
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Osceola Mills Pa
H E L P - Winter project gone bad
My power steering leaked. Bought a rebuilt steering control valve, piston, and hoses from the Last Detail. Got a rebuilt pump from Advance Auto. Pressed pulley on and off. Put it all together. Added fluid, ran the steering back and forth. Let it sit till the next day. Added fluid. Started it up. The piston didn't move, so I adjusted the nut on the control valve and nothing happened. About that time got a loud squeel came from the power steering pump. Its seems the pully was coming off. Pressed it back on. Went on pretty easy this time. Checked hoses for any blockages and correct connections then put some more fluid back in. Went through the same routine as before and it didn't take long before it started squeeling again. I assume the pulley is gone. But the question is what caused it? Would a new pulley correct the problem. 82 Vette
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
It's a combo of the pulley and shaft of the pump being worn so they don't press fit together as they used to. This is not good and you will likely have to measure the shaft and the pulley to see if it's one, or both that need to be replaced.
It's entirely possible that the pump was bad. It's under warranty so if you do have to replace it it won't cost you anything but time to replace it.
It's entirely possible that the pump was bad. It's under warranty so if you do have to replace it it won't cost you anything but time to replace it.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Osceola Mills Pa
Guess I'll take it out tomorrow. The shaft should be ok since its hardened steel. Guess I'll try the pulley first. Another question would be how do you adjust the control valve. Is there an initial setting?
Last edited by rafto; Feb 25, 2007 at 05:58 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Do you have the hoses between the control valve and power cylinder hooked up correctly? I hooked mine up wrong when I overhauled my combo and the steering didnt work very good. I also tried adjusting the nut on the control valve and turned it too far and it ruined my pump somehow it puts excessive pressure on the pump and it will ruin it fast. recenter the adjusting nut and make sure the lines are hooked up properly. Good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Osceola Mills Pa
First thing I thought of. Thought back pressure was causing pump to bog down and that was why the pulley came off. Checked lines against the shop manual and they are right. Disconnected them and checked that they were clear. I couldn't figure why the pulley came off. Only pulled and pressed it on. Maybe it was done a few times before I got this Vette. Don't know how many times you can do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
First thing I thought of. Thought back pressure was causing pump to bog down and that was why the pulley came off. Checked lines against the shop manual and they are right. Disconnected them and checked that they were clear. I couldn't figure why the pulley came off. Only pulled and pressed it on. Maybe it was done a few times before I got this Vette. Don't know how many times you can do it.
Question...after the pulley spun off, and you take the belt loose did you try to turn the pump shaft with your fingers?
Without the belt...you should be able to spin the pump by hand even if there is a blockage. Check that and see if it's hard to spin with your fingers.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
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From: Osceola Mills Pa
Well replaced the pump today with the same results. The next thing is the steering control valve. If the valve is plugged on the supply side would it cause pressure to build up in the pump and cause the problem I have now?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
It sounds like you forgot to install the key between the pulley and the PS pump....
If you keep the oil in the pump reservoir from running dry, putting the hoses on incorrectly only make the system fail to work or might blow off a hose or damage the PS valve.
If you keep the oil in the pump reservoir from running dry, putting the hoses on incorrectly only make the system fail to work or might blow off a hose or damage the PS valve.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Osceola Mills Pa
The pulley is a pressure fit. Something is binding up the pump. Doing a little research and the way it looks is that the fluid is continuously circulating from the pump to the steering control valve and returning to the reservoir. If for some reason the path was blocked would it cause the pump to bind up. Going to take the steering control valve out tomorrow and check it.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 0
From: Hanover Maryland
Good luck, sounds like a blockage somewhere.