Power Steering Problems
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Power Steering Problems
I just replaced everything in my power steering system with stuff from Vette Brakes. Everything felt really tight for about the first 100 miles. I then developed a leak at one of the hoses. I fixed the the leak. Everything was fine. Shortly after I fixed the leak, the steering became very erratic. It feels like the control valve is out of adjustment. It has alot of play when I turn left, but is very sensitive when I turn right. But the strange thing is that it seems worse sometimes than others. Also, the car is now VERY sensitive to road input. If I hit a bump, the car wants to dart all over the road. (Again, this problem is worse sometimes than others.) Any ideas? I thought I'd hit you guys up for advice before I called VBP.
BTW-- The entire front suspension was rebuilt when I did the P/S stuff.
TIA,
BTW-- The entire front suspension was rebuilt when I did the P/S stuff.
TIA,
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Power Steering Problems (e3pres)
OK, you did the suspension, so that's out...did you check/replace the tie rod ends?? I will assume they are in good condition...so the next thing, is under a miniature dust cover...looks like the bearing dust cover on the front axel...
on the outer end of the controll valve, is an adjustment nut, what you do is take the end of the power assist ram off the car frame...leave it loose, start the engine, and adjust that nut untill that ram stays still, it's a very sensitive adjustment, one way or the other will quickly move ram...
adjust for no movement....neutral balance...
put dust cover back and reconnect ram, and try it again...
check for idler arm vertical movement..., as well as other linkage tightness...
wonder about the rear end??? is everything back there solid??? might have a looksee....beleive it or not, I lost all 4 bolts on the camber rod bracket under the differential housing,,,,,and nearly the car too....it was a mess with being all over the road...
GENE
on the outer end of the controll valve, is an adjustment nut, what you do is take the end of the power assist ram off the car frame...leave it loose, start the engine, and adjust that nut untill that ram stays still, it's a very sensitive adjustment, one way or the other will quickly move ram...
adjust for no movement....neutral balance...
put dust cover back and reconnect ram, and try it again...
check for idler arm vertical movement..., as well as other linkage tightness...
wonder about the rear end??? is everything back there solid??? might have a looksee....beleive it or not, I lost all 4 bolts on the camber rod bracket under the differential housing,,,,,and nearly the car too....it was a mess with being all over the road...
GENE
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Power Steering Problems (e3pres)
MrVette's procedure is good. When you say loose when you hit bumps the idler are is a key suspect. Jack it up and see what movement you have on the idler arm up and down. Also, when you did the front end did you replace the center link that the tie rods attach to? The pitman arm bal coupling is there and can cause wandering with bumps. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Power Steering Problems (bigvette1)
Isn't that pitman arm ball assy part of the controll valve, I think it is...
and that's another point, there is a tension/clamp/tightening thing on how far that controll valve screws onto the drag link...been a while, but if too loose there is too much play in the controll valve, hense the reactions you may be having....that ball stud imput thing tied to the steering box 'pittman' arm should be tite as hell from the feel, as I recall, it's spring loaded, needs tension tor neutral balance and tite feel...
check the books on that one....
then center up the ram as noted above...
GENE
and that's another point, there is a tension/clamp/tightening thing on how far that controll valve screws onto the drag link...been a while, but if too loose there is too much play in the controll valve, hense the reactions you may be having....that ball stud imput thing tied to the steering box 'pittman' arm should be tite as hell from the feel, as I recall, it's spring loaded, needs tension tor neutral balance and tite feel...
check the books on that one....
then center up the ram as noted above...
GENE
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,752
Likes: 0
From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: Power Steering Problems (mrvette)
Thanks for the input, guys. The idler is brand new, along with the tie-rod ends and everything else rubber on the front. I'll check the threads where the control valve and the centerlink meet. That sounds like a reasonable assumption (not to mention the only thing I haven't checked. :)) The control valve does seem to be a little out of adjustment, but I don't think that's all the problem. I'll have to check with VBP to see if making that adjustment myself will void my warranty.
Thanks again,
Thanks again,
