Ok, I have been chasing and trying to fix p/s leaks since I have owned this car, so far, I have replaced every single steering component except for the box itself. I have replaced the hoses twice and had to rebuild my steering cylinder that I bought less than a year ago. I still have a leak where the two small hoses connect to the control valve, I cant tighten them anymore, and the valve and hoses are new. Is there anything I can do to seal this system up? Also, my 78 feels very twitchy in the steering, will rebuilding the steering box help this, or should I go for a different set up like the jeep box or Steeroids?

Thanks for any info,
Chris

 

I feel your pain. I have been messing with mine off and on for the last year. The leak at your hose connections to the control valve may be caused by damaged seats in the inlets (or maybe the hoses themselves). The hoses are flare fittings that have to fit up against machined seats in the control valve when you tighten them. If they are burred or damaged you will get a leak.

I have kind of a "twitchy steering" problem too. I have replaced the power steering system with a VBP kit, replaced the steering coupler with a genuine Saginaw replacement, rebuilt the steering box with a kit from Vansteel (you have to have a small inch pound torque wrench to set the box up properly after rebuild), and replaced the power steering pump with a brand new AGR pump, Replaced upper and lower control arm bushings, upper and lower ball joints, Idler arm, tie rods (VBP), and new inner and outer Timken wheel bearings, new Bendix rotors and pads. At least the car does not wander like it did before.

I have pretty much tracked the problem back to the rebuilt control valve that I got in the VBP kit is acting up. Re-balancing did not solve the problem. I guess I'll have to remove it and return it for a replacement. I really hate doing things twice, or three times or.... I'm starting to learn that getting rebuilt parts from anyone is pretty much of a crap shoot. If you can't rebuild it yourself it's probanly better to buy new.

Best of luck with yours. You are not alone.

 

I have the same problem with new hoses to orginal control valve. Seems like the steel portion of the hose needs to be lined up straight with the control valve as you tighten the fitting down but these hoses are hard to position.
There is no sealer that you can use here and the fitting is so small you can twist them off.