C3 Power Steering Control Valve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
C3 Power Steering Control Valve
I am replacing the power steering control valve on my '75. There is (what looks like) a grease fitting on it, but I can't find any mention of it in the install manuals I have. It looks like it just feeds in to an empty cavity. Does anyone know what it is for or if I need to do anything with it?
TIA as always!
TIA as always!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Yep. Do that fitting "last" when you grease up the steering joints. That way, you'll know that the grease pump is primed. Hook it to the zerk fitting and give it one full pump. That's all it should need to keep lubed. You can damage the cylinder seals if you overdo it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Early valves came with a zerk fitting and were supposed to be greased regularly. The early valves had stud seals that had a small purge slit that allowed excess grease to squirt out. Later valves eliminated the zerk and had stud seals without a slit. Those valves were supposed to be "greased for life."
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Early valves came with a zerk fitting and were supposed to be greased regularly. The early valves had stud seals that had a small purge slit that allowed excess grease to squirt out. Later valves eliminated the zerk and had stud seals without a slit. Those valves were supposed to be "greased for life."
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 13
From: Hollywood, Florida
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 3
From: CA
Early valves came with a zerk fitting and were supposed to be greased regularly. The early valves had stud seals that had a small purge slit that allowed excess grease to squirt out. Later valves eliminated the zerk and had stud seals without a slit. Those valves were supposed to be "greased for life."
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Now the problem arises if you happen to have an old valve with a zerk and somewhere in your car's history someone replaced the stud seal with one without the purge slit. Then you run a real risk of blowing the stud seal or damaging the lips seals inside the valve.
So be careful and don't overgrease this part.
Jim
Jim, I just spent a fortune on a new valve from GM as I was having problems with rebuilds. While its already on the car, do you know if these new valves have a grease fitting and/or the slit in the seal?
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
When I rebuild a valve I put a plug in.Years ago I got a couple valves back after they had been to Jiffy lube and they had filled the entire valve with grease.Since then I plug them ,if you cant find a pipe plug a 1/4-28-1/4 set screw is what I use and it works good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
I would bet that there is no zerk and the stud seal does not have a purge slit. That having been said, only God knows who is manufacturing "new" valves today. GM/Saginaw quit manufacturing the valve shortly after the C4 Corvette went into production with a rack & pinion steering gear in 1984. Saginaw sold the control valve tools. Those tools might be in South America (or China) by now. I would seriously doubt that GM Parts is still working off Saginaw old stock but I could be wrong.
Jim
Jim
