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Leaky hoses and 51 years old, looking to replace the old hoses and "while I'm at it" might just replace everything, so I don't have to chase leaks in the future.
Saw a replacement kit on eBay at a significantly discounted price and was curious what the members here thought about it or if they had experience with this vendor.
From: Arizona - If you don’t know CFI, STOP proliferating the myths around it...
It's all made in China so that makes it a crap shoot on the quality. Hopefully it will hold up for a few years before you have to do it all again. GM made some good stuff back in the day which you will more than likely not find that kind of quality anymore. GL
The pumps changed in the mid-'70s from a long-necked version to a "canned ham" version. The parts book lists different pumps but I think they're interchangeable... A google of each number would likely show the differences.
The high-pressure hoses were listed by year and engine; the low pressure return was the same for all. Again, not sure why, just relaying the info.
So many people complain that the original PS sucks. It actually doesn't! The replacement control valves really, really suck! With a capital S. I tryed one. Then I understood why so many bag out the factory PS.
if your parts are good. KEEP THEM! the replacement parts are garbage. Just replace the hoses.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by 4-vettes
So many people complain that the original PS sucks. It actually doesn't! The replacement control valves really, really suck! With a capital S. I tryed one. Then I understood why so many bag out the factory PS.
if your parts are good. KEEP THEM! the replacement parts are garbage. Just replace the hoses.
Like 4-Vettes, I've changed a few P/S hoses in 35 years, but no other parts. But, I did rebuild the P/S Valve. Having read horror stories about the job, it turned pout to be easy, and just needed care. I also popped in new seals on the ram. Tempting fate I know, but that was almost 10 years ago, and all good so far! If it's just the hoses that are leaking, just change them. OK, change them anyway, they must be old!
The best thing you could do for your car's P/S is to get the steering gear rebuilt if it's never been touched. Or rebuild it yourself. That's one the biggest weaknesses in C3's. But once rebuilt, will tighten up and transform your car's steering. Even back in the 70's they knew the stock boxes needed more maintenace. It's not difficult to do yourself if you have decent mechanical skills. But for what some of the guys on this forum charge to do it, it almost makes sense to pay someone who knows what they're doing.
The other thing too would be to inspect your car's flexible coupler (Rag joint). If it's original, replace it. Or at least put a vise grips on the bottom end of the shaft (doesn't need to be too tight). Then block the vise grips and tie it to the engine/frame whatever, so it won't move. Then wiggle the steering wheel and feel for 'slop'.
Make sure the Idler arm is good too. And of course the rest of the steering/suspension system.
Those two first things above can be a major improvement in your car's steering, handling and enjoyment. Esp a steering box rebuild.
I ordered new hoses and have been looking things over. There has been a bit of excessive play in the steering.
Got new tires and checked alignment, which checked out.
Rag joint feels solid but I need to get the secretary of war out there to wiggle it for me. I'll probably throw a new idler arm on it, the Chilton called for 25lb force to check it, don't know how much I was pushing or pulling but I got about 3/16 of movement out of it. It won't affect alignment and is original.
I read up on adjusting and /or rebuilding the steering box and I may tackle that depending on how it drives after I get the new hoses on. I was a Design/Manufacturing Engineer, it doesn't look too difficult but since there are some here that can do it, I have a Plan B.
I only put a couple thousand miles on it a year, if that. Local cruises and/or car show or two.
Do yourself a favor and buy the factory shop manual (and assembly instruction manual) for your specific year of Corvette. And throw that Chilton's manual in the trash.
If you can get the steering box dialed in, that will help a lot.
Between the Chilton, Haynes, what I find I this and other sites, it should be enough. Hydraulics and CNCs (with ball screws) were two things I did a fair amount of work on.
Before going with Unknown origin EBAY parts I would suggest that you speak with the guys at TURN ONE Performance Power Steering as they are the EXPERTS In high performance power steering systems. The parts they see are going to be a higher quality than available on EBAY. They are located in Saginaw, Michigan and have the best support for those of us with questions.
If you want to stick with a power steering system that is nice and tight then consider the option of converting to the newer electric power steering systems. There are several conversion companies. I have a Power Rack and Pinion system from Steeroids. It is a nice system that make steering feel more like the precision power steering of my C4.
If your original parts are still working then your best bet would be sticking with the factory original power steering hoses and just rebuild the parts as you need to. This kind of project is a great winter time project.
Thank you. I realized that eBay deal looked a little too good to be true, I'm glad I asked here.
One job I had, we made parts for Saginaw Steering Gear, I wonder if any of their employees worked there?
Did the PS system on my '75 coupe earlier this year.
Lone Star Caliper in Texas provided rebuilt slave cylinder and power steering control valve. They use original GM cores.
Hoses came from Full Throttle on ebay. USA made. Fit perfectly. You must be careful aligning the hoses so they do not contact anything when turning the steering wheel lock to lock. Not hard to do, just be sure you have a look before snugging the fittings down.
My PS pump was fine.
These systems are not like modern cars but better than nothing. My '67 roadster is a bear to steer in the driveway.
Good luck.
Buy good quality hoses and, if you are a 'DIY guy', buy a rebuild kit for the control head. Do the rebuild yourself; it is pretty easy. Clean the outside first to remove all the crud. When you disassemble, lay out the parts as you remove them, noting any specific orientation of the parts required. Make notes so that you can put it back together exactly as it cam apart. Put light coating of oil or grease on seals before you install them to prevent cutting.
P.S. If you rebuild your own control head, make a note of EXACTLY how many turns it takes to unscrew the control head form the link arm. That way, you can screw it back on that same number of turns and know that it is in the correctly location and steering geometry will be correct.
Do research on how to properly center the 'action' of the control head; and also how to clear air from the system when done.
I used to love working on cars but somewhere over the near 50 years of doing it, it has lost a lot of it's appeal to me. I only continue to do it because of the things I have had worked on, I've found many things missed or just done incorrectly.
C3 power steering
