Power Steering Leak
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: wellington fl
Power Steering Leak
I have a power steering leak that is driving me crazy. I have replace the pressue hose and I have replace the cylinder twice. It seems it is leaking from the cylinder. The first time I had the cylinder I had it done by professional. The second time I did it myself.
My question is this. I'm wandering if he hooked my hoses up correctly. Should the two hoses going to the cylinder be crossed or should the bottom hose on the cylinder go to the bottom on the control valve.
If I have the hoses backwards have I damaged the cylinder and now I need a third one.
thanks
My question is this. I'm wandering if he hooked my hoses up correctly. Should the two hoses going to the cylinder be crossed or should the bottom hose on the cylinder go to the bottom on the control valve.
If I have the hoses backwards have I damaged the cylinder and now I need a third one.
thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Aim
Bill,
You must get an Assembly Instruction Manual for your year Corvette. It has the drawings that show YOU exactly how the hoses go. As to damaging the ram, I don't know, but it's only a hydraulic cylinder so it receives pump pressure all the time that the engine is running. It couldn't care less which side gets the pressurised fluid, so I think it's unlikely that you have done any damage.
Hopefully someone local to you will chime in and give you more help.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
You must get an Assembly Instruction Manual for your year Corvette. It has the drawings that show YOU exactly how the hoses go. As to damaging the ram, I don't know, but it's only a hydraulic cylinder so it receives pump pressure all the time that the engine is running. It couldn't care less which side gets the pressurised fluid, so I think it's unlikely that you have done any damage.
Hopefully someone local to you will chime in and give you more help.
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
I cant help you with your leak but I did accidently hook up the lines wrong and believe me when they were hooked up wrong in my case the steering wheel kept violently jerking left to right. When I did hook them up correctly my stering has been working normally for years so I dont think if you did hook up the hoses wrong that it did any damage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
After installation of the cylinder, DO NOT GREASE IT! Even if there is a grease fitting present - they are supposed to be install ready, and applying grease will blow out an internal seal.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
JIMT,
You are confusing the assist cylinder (ram) with the control valve that is hooked to the pitman arm. Both may have zerk fittings.
The fitting on the assist cylinder only communicates with the ball stud on the end of the cylinder. So you could damage the ball stud seal on that end of the cylinder, but you cannot hurt the cylinder itself.
You can damage the control valve internal seals if you overpressurize the ball stud cavity.
Jim
You are confusing the assist cylinder (ram) with the control valve that is hooked to the pitman arm. Both may have zerk fittings.
The fitting on the assist cylinder only communicates with the ball stud on the end of the cylinder. So you could damage the ball stud seal on that end of the cylinder, but you cannot hurt the cylinder itself.
You can damage the control valve internal seals if you overpressurize the ball stud cavity.
Jim
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: sobieski wisconsin
take your front LF tire off,turn your steering wheel all the way to the right.looking straight in at the control valve,the bootom tube on valve connects to the top port on the cylinder.the metal tubes are crossed at the control valve.you cannot damage the cyl. by hooking them up backwards.if you are sure the leak is at the cyl.and it has been rebuilt twice,maybe the rod is bent or check for a nick in the rod.if the rod is pitted or nicked,it will tear your new seals out very quickly.also check for a cracked or bad flare on your hose ends where they connect to the cylinder.iif you are not sure exactly where the leak is coming from,clean the area good.i use brake cleanner or starting fluid and blow it off with a air hose.this will dry the area good and clean.i found my leak at the control valvei rebuilt and good to go.good luck.
Last edited by tjohn1008; Mar 2, 2010 at 08:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Grumpy posted pics.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ing-hoses.html
Crossed, seems easy to remember after doing it once.
I had a minor leak in the original cylinder (ram) & lubed w/ synthetic to fix.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ing-hoses.html
Crossed, seems easy to remember after doing it once.
I had a minor leak in the original cylinder (ram) & lubed w/ synthetic to fix.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 518
Likes: 12
From: Panhandle
Check the Flare Fittings & Mating Surfaces
On my 1974 Vette, I Tolerated a leak for some time thinking it was a bad hose. When I recently pulled the engine, I also pulled the entire steering rack to better understand the leak. What I found surpised me. "A piece of dirt" preventing a good mating. Disconnect your fittings and LOOK VERY HARD at the mating surfaces. You may find a damaged fitting or just some FOD (foreign object).
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
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