76 power steering control valve rebuild
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
76 power steering control valve rebuild
Hello everyone been reading this board for some time and this is my First post. I have a 76 and the Power Steering Control Valve leaks pretty bad and I am getting ready to rebuild it I have all the parts/seals Just wanted to know if anyone here has done it before or if anyone has any pointers.
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,702
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
First pointer is to read the many papers on corvettefaq . I think that Jim Shea wrote most if not all. There are a couple of tricky parts when assembling, particularly with the annulus washer (really, that's what they're called) but it really isn't that hard. Pay particular attention to the instructions on balancing the valve after instalation.
If you have problems, post them here. There are many here that have done this.
If you have problems, post them here. There are many here that have done this.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 5
From: Frisco TX
Get your money back
My advice is to return the rebuild kit and buy a refurbished one. A couple of weeks ago I experienced the same problem. Purchased a rebuild kit for $10. Then I noticed that it didn't come with the rubber boot and clamp. Had to purchase from Ecklers for $20 or so. I'm pretty mechanical but once I got into the unit it turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated. You have to get all the parts on correctly or it will continue to leak. I ended buying a new one for $140 cause all the remanufactured ones seem to be on backorder cause people aren't turning in their cores. I've seen them on Ebay for $70. They should work though if you can get one. They're not the easiest things in the world to install. All I'm saying is that for a few extra bucks, save yourself the headache of rebuilding and taking a chance on it leaking immediately or in a couple of months. Also, whatever you do take your car to the carwash and clean off all that old grease. It makes the job much easier when installing.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Originally Posted by jcoulter
My advice is to return the rebuild kit and buy a refurbished one. A couple of weeks ago I experienced the same problem. Purchased a rebuild kit for $10. Then I noticed that it didn't come with the rubber boot and clamp. Had to purchase from Ecklers for $20 or so. I'm pretty mechanical but once I got into the unit it turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated. You have to get all the parts on correctly or it will continue to leak. I ended buying a new one for $140 cause all the remanufactured ones seem to be on backorder cause people aren't turning in their cores. I've seen them on Ebay for $70. They should work though if you can get one. They're not the easiest things in the world to install. All I'm saying is that for a few extra bucks, save yourself the headache of rebuilding and taking a chance on it leaking immediately or in a couple of months. Also, whatever you do take your car to the carwash and clean off all that old grease. It makes the job much easier when installing.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
Don't bother with the rebuilt ones... you may wind up going through half a dozen before you get one that doesn't start leaking as soon as you install it. The metal internal parts wear out, and even a "refurbished" unit has the old metal parts inside. The case itself wears on the inside rendering it useless, even if the rest of the parts are useable. If the kit doesn't work, buy a new one... not a rebuilt one.
Don't remove the valve from the pitman arm with a pickle fork... that is "bubba" and can ruin the steering gear. Use a puller.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 365
Likes: 1
From: UK without vette :(
I have read somewhere that if you install a different control valve (new or rebuilt) that the steering handling and feel may change, just FYI. I went with the rebuild kit removal, rebuild and install was not too bad, obtw I have leak free for the past 3 months. Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Columbia SC
Originally Posted by jcoulter
My advice is to return the rebuild kit and buy a refurbished one. A couple of weeks ago I experienced the same problem. Purchased a rebuild kit for $10. Then I noticed that it didn't come with the rubber boot and clamp. Had to purchase from Ecklers for $20 or so. I'm pretty mechanical but once I got into the unit it turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated. You have to get all the parts on correctly or it will continue to leak. I ended buying a new one for $140 cause all the remanufactured ones seem to be on backorder cause people aren't turning in their cores. I've seen them on Ebay for $70. They should work though if you can get one. They're not the easiest things in the world to install. All I'm saying is that for a few extra bucks, save yourself the headache of rebuilding and taking a chance on it leaking immediately or in a couple of months. Also, whatever you do take your car to the carwash and clean off all that old grease. It makes the job much easier when installing.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
Better yet, Zip sells kits for $200. Contains the control valve, steering rod and the 4 hoses. This is a lot of bang for your buck and then you have piece of mind for years to come.
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