Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,280
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please
Installing my headers, I noticed a significant pool of power steering fluid on the floor! I cannot locate where it coming from exactly but I am not real comfortable about driving it when I have a leak in my PS. I do not notice any differences in driving and it does not make any noises, however, the power steering fluid level has undoubtedly dropped.
Has anyone had any experiece with this and can recommend some checks I should make?
Thanks,
Stephen
Has anyone had any experiece with this and can recommend some checks I should make?
Thanks,
Stephen
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,990
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From: No longer a member
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
First thing I'd do is spray that area down with degreaser, hose it off, then run the car turning the wheels back and forth. Shut it down then take a shop light and try to find the leak. Could be anything from a bad hose to a leaking pump.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
Follow C3 Sharktank's advice, but check around the powersteering control valve, especially if your hoses, cylinder shaft seak and P/S pump look good. The control valve is known to just start leaking. Bad hoses and the pump usually will only drip a few drops unless they fail completely, same for the cylinder shaft seal. The control valve can be good one day and the next putting out a pretty good puddle of fluid.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 83
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From: West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
I had (thank GOD) a leak from my PS dampner. I used a product called NO LEAK made by Gold Eagle. It'a available at auto parts stores, costs about $6.00. Works great - no more leak. :)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,280
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From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (Smokehouse69)
I could not locate where the leak was coming from, but it must have been fairly high on the power steering system because it looks like it had trickled down onto a few parts... I'll have to take a closer look...
Would the control valve be a pain to replace?
More advice? Anyone?
Would the control valve be a pain to replace?
More advice? Anyone?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 190
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From: Troy IL
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
I had the same problem, started off with a complete loss of all power steering throughout the course of one week to needing a refill every other day. I tried a couple of stop leaks which didn't work. I finally shelled out 6 bucks for a amber stop leak from wal-mart. Leak has been gone for 3 months now. Go with different stop leaks before shelling out more money for a rebuild.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
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From: Wildwood IL
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
Would the control valve be a pain to replace?
Up on stands in November it went and the fluids started running. P/S control valve was the worst. Rebuild kits are available from all vendors for about $30. (can't remember what I paid) and rebuilt valves are too. Rebuilding doesn't look that hard, neither does changing it out completly. Corvettefaq has a tech article on the rebuild! Centering the valve/steering after rebuild looks like a PAIN though! Someone mentioned here that the rebuilt valve they purchased was already centered..which makes the job an easy swap,.don't remember from where..info at home..sorry!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
Volvette... found it. Vette Brakes sells the centered P/S control valve.. and will install a stiffer spring for a tighter feel if you so choose!! :cheers: :cheers:
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: ma
Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (VolVette)
I had leaks that I had a hard time finding. Get some white rags and tie them around all the connections then went for a very short ride. The leak showed up easyly.Do not go far for you could get a fire!! PS A leak at the control valve did throw some of the fuild higher with turbulance from the air passing over it,the rag trick showed where the real leak was...my.02cents :seeya
Le Mans Master
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Leaking? Help Please (rdrman)
Good tip, bandage up all suspected leak points and drive it for a few minutes. I like it! :cheers:
