Vague steering-control valve?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 845
Likes: 54
From: Bangor, Northern Ireland
Vague steering-control valve?
The previous owner replaced most of the steering on my '71, the steering was a bit vague when i bought it so i replaced the rag joint which was knackered but the vagueness is still there, i've just been moving the steering with my dad helping and i've noticed slop in the joint where the pitman arm meets the control valve, the slop seems to be in the metal carrier on the control valve that the joint fits in, not in the joint itself, you can see this moving from left to right as you turn the wheel, is this normal? it doesnt seem so to me, help!
Last edited by aaroncorvette; Jan 26, 2009 at 08:36 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo MO
on the inside of the control valve is a pair of cups and a spring that supports the ball stud. it is housed in a sort of cage. there is a possibility that any of these could be worn or broke causing your problem.
that is really all there is inside of that thing. the other side of the control valve houses the hydraulic portion.
now, since it is a "power assist" set up, it might be possible that the hydraulic portion is weak, and you are relying more on you that the assist to steer. when you turn the wheel, the ball stud is shifted right or left to move the valve into position to allow fluid to be routed properly causing the cylinder to extend or retract. you could be feeling the ball stud move, without the full effect of the cylinder doin its job.
that is really all there is inside of that thing. the other side of the control valve houses the hydraulic portion.
now, since it is a "power assist" set up, it might be possible that the hydraulic portion is weak, and you are relying more on you that the assist to steer. when you turn the wheel, the ball stud is shifted right or left to move the valve into position to allow fluid to be routed properly causing the cylinder to extend or retract. you could be feeling the ball stud move, without the full effect of the cylinder doin its job.
