Power Steering Ram

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Feb 8, 2005 | 12:27 AM

Berserker78

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 2,005

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From: Ridgecrest CA

Power Steering Ram

My power steering ram has started leaking pretty significantly. Six months ago, it didn't leak at all, but it have been sitting since then (winter), and when I went out to start it today, I drove it in a circle around the parking lot to get everything loose before parking it again, and I discovered that the power steering ram is visibly leaking.

I am going to try using some stop leak fluid in it, but if that doesn't work, how large of a project is replacing it?

Feb 8, 2005 | 12:32 AM

Retro78

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 1,259

Likes: 7

From: Ontario

Replacing it is easy, just messy. I would not bother with a stop-leak product. Once the seals go, time for a new one. You may also want to consider installing new hoses at the same time.

Feb 8, 2005 | 02:24 AM

Desertdawg

Race Director

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 16,483

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From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.

St. Jude Donor '09

I just did this job 2 weeks ago, order the complete kit, which includes the control valve, the cylinder, and 4 hoses...(you WILL need new hoses)...

Just keep the orientation of the hoses from the control valve to the cylinder correct...
You will need a pickle fork to get the old parts off, the rest is just regular hand tools. After all the nasty greasy old parts are off, all the new shiny parts go on real easy...

No more drips now

Feb 8, 2005 | 11:38 AM

Matt Gruber

Race Director

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 15,036

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From: central FL, near the beach.

if u have snap ring pliers, u can change the seal.
i paid $12 for a kit. all i used was the seal.
that was 10 years ago and not a drop has leaked since.

Feb 8, 2005 | 03:50 PM

COMMANDER370

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 814

Likes: 2

From: WESTLAKE LA

I had more trouble getting mine off my car than the guys here at work did fixing it.I bought the kit and got it rebuilt for a 6 pack after work

I agree in repacing the hoses

Feb 8, 2005 | 09:13 PM

68/70Vette

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 40,404

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From: Redondo Beach, California

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Gruber

if u have snap ring pliers, u can change the seal.
i paid $12 for a kit. all i used was the seal.
that was 10 years ago and not a drop has leaked since.

After removing the snap ring, I didn't find it that easy. There were other washers remaining and to get them out I had to sharpen a small screwdriver and cut the pieces to remove them. Yes, with these kits you can replace the washers under the snap ring. But these aren't the only washers and seals. There are others inside the body that you can't reach without cutting the cylinder open. If you solved your problem by replacing the washers under the snap ring, that was a good reason for trying the rebuild kit. However, I think it should be recognized that for some seal failulres, replacing the washers underneath the snap ring may not be the solution. My impression was that the seals under the snap ring were really just mud scrapers. Possibly I'm incorrect about this. I, like you, have preplaced my seals with the kit you probably used. I'm just hoping it really works.

Last edited by 68/70Vette; Feb 8, 2005 at 09:16 PM.

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