Bleeding power steering help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Mukilteo Washington
Bleeding power steering help
I put a new VB&P power steering hose, valve and cylinder plus a rebuilt steering gear box with a new rag joint, I filled the pump and ran it a few seconds and found a leak, after I fixed the leak the fluid became level (about 36 oz), I then jacked the front end and ran it while turning the wheel and checking fluid level through out this process(per my manual), after all this I have manual like steering, there is no difference in the steering with car on or off, I've ran this for about an hour, I even took it for a test spin (it's been down sence aug) and it was really bad, my arms are tired can anyone give me some hope? Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
From your description of your bleeding process, the only thing that I would have done differently is that I would have jacked the front wheels off the ground, engine OFF, I would have turned the steering wheel lock to lock about a dozen times. Checked and replenished fluid and did the lock to lock thing another dozen times.
When you start the engine and there is still a lot of air in the system, the power steering pump whips the air into a froth as it passes through the pump. The fluid then looks very milky in color. Since air is entrained into the fluid, you actually have a compressible medium. This results in a lack of power assist. You then have to wait until all the very fine bubbles in suspension work their way out on their own. This can take an overnight sit for most of the air to be eliminated.
Having said all this, since you have had this problem for at least two days, it would seem that most of the air should have worked its way out of the fluid by now. It sounds as if you have a pump or control valve problem.
Good luck,
Jim
When you start the engine and there is still a lot of air in the system, the power steering pump whips the air into a froth as it passes through the pump. The fluid then looks very milky in color. Since air is entrained into the fluid, you actually have a compressible medium. This results in a lack of power assist. You then have to wait until all the very fine bubbles in suspension work their way out on their own. This can take an overnight sit for most of the air to be eliminated.
Having said all this, since you have had this problem for at least two days, it would seem that most of the air should have worked its way out of the fluid by now. It sounds as if you have a pump or control valve problem.
Good luck,
Jim
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Mukilteo Washington
I tried it again this morning with the same results, I checked the pump (this is the only part I didn't change) and I'm getting no movement in fluid at all, there is no air being wipped up, the fluid is just stagnent, the pump isn't makeing any odd sounds as well, could this be a bad pump or would this happen to a good pump with a defective valve? Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Sometimes the pump driveshaft breaks inside the pump. The pulley and the remaining part of the driveshaft keep the parts in place so that it looks like the pump is still functioning. The driveshaft is normally held in place by a retaining ring inside the pump. (Once the driveshaft is broken, the belt keeps things in line and won't let the broken shaft "walk" out of the pump.)
Remove the power steering pump belt and see if you can slide the pulley and driveshaft somewhat out of the pump. If you can move the pulley and driveshaft any amount, you have a broken shaft and therefore you need a new pump.
That is my best guess as to your problem.
Jim Shea
Remove the power steering pump belt and see if you can slide the pulley and driveshaft somewhat out of the pump. If you can move the pulley and driveshaft any amount, you have a broken shaft and therefore you need a new pump.
That is my best guess as to your problem.
Jim Shea
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I'd check it like Jim said first.
When my wife blew the PS pump on her Tahoe - Jim was 100% correct.
Under load (she was doing donuts lock-to-lock) the PS pump
shaft broke. I didn't even notice the shaft broken until I went
to pull the pulley off of it. Hmmm - why is it pulling out 1/2" ?
Hmmmm - why has it pulled out entirely ?
Who would think that cutting the wheel and revving the engine
would break the 1/2" steel shaft ? It did.
Did your pump/system work before putting all the new goodies in ?
When my wife blew the PS pump on her Tahoe - Jim was 100% correct.
Under load (she was doing donuts lock-to-lock) the PS pump
shaft broke. I didn't even notice the shaft broken until I went
to pull the pulley off of it. Hmmm - why is it pulling out 1/2" ?
Hmmmm - why has it pulled out entirely ?
Who would think that cutting the wheel and revving the engine
would break the 1/2" steel shaft ? It did.
Did your pump/system work before putting all the new goodies in ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: Mukilteo Washington
Did your pump/system work before putting all the new goodies?
Yes it worked ok, I changed and rebuilt the whole front and rear ends in a kinda mini frame off restoration (car jacked 3" off the frame).
Yes it worked ok, I changed and rebuilt the whole front and rear ends in a kinda mini frame off restoration (car jacked 3" off the frame).
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Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 6
From: Palos Verdes Peninsula California
Originally Posted by 77 vette
I put a new VB&P power steering hose, valve and cylinder plus a rebuilt steering gear box with a new rag joint, I filled the pump and ran it a few seconds and found a leak, after I fixed the leak the fluid became level (about 36 oz), I then jacked the front end and ran it while turning the wheel and checking fluid level through out this process(per my manual), after all this I have manual like steering, there is no difference in the steering with car on or off, I've ran this for about an hour, I even took it for a test spin (it's been down sence aug) and it was really bad, my arms are tired can anyone give me some hope? Thanks.
My steering feel very screwed up, turns are harder than they used to be and the car feels very arkward. I also have a good amount of play in my steering, sometimes it seems like the suspension is moving before it gets to the steering wheel.
I had my alignment (and my work) checked and everything was good. All the work I did definitely solved a few problems I was having, but others seem worse.
