Steering control valve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Steering control valve
Noticed today the original has started leaking (78,000 mi) from the end where the small nut is. 
Can this be tightened up or am I doomed for a new or rebuilt one or try to rebuild it myself (any special tools)? Thanks for any help or advise 
Ed
Can this be tightened up or am I doomed for a new or rebuilt one or try to rebuild it myself (any special tools)? Thanks for any help or advise Ed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Ed
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The only problem with a home rebuild you don't know how worn out the bore is. If it is all scraped up no matter how good the seal is it will leak. I tried rebuilding 2 of them and they leaked. I now put in new or rebuilt ones with a warranty so if they leak they will be replaced. And yes I have had some rebuilders ones leak also. New is best but expensive.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
I have had terrible luck with new ones from LS,then I started buying LS rebuilts and they did good for awhile , now I went back to rebuilding my own.
I did my own for years but got lazy. There is a little trick to the assembly process. I think I started out using GMs directions and found out I was cutting the seals. I'll have to read up on it and see how my assembly process differs ( if it does, guess I could have read the GM directions wrong).
I did my own for years but got lazy. There is a little trick to the assembly process. I think I started out using GMs directions and found out I was cutting the seals. I'll have to read up on it and see how my assembly process differs ( if it does, guess I could have read the GM directions wrong).
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Ok I have now replaced the ps control valve that was leaking with a new one. All is good except the steering (as before) still has a firm feel to it as if no full power steering. I took a bolt out of the gear box cover and stuck a small straw down inside and got a very little old and dark grease. Could this be this problem? 
Thanks Ed
Thanks Ed
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Doubt it, maybe too much tension on the worm gear adjustment? Do you have pressure from the pump? With the engine running, try just cracking the high pressure line at the valve. Is anything binding in the steering linkage? Just remember this is power-assisted steering.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Don't raech through the steering wheel when starting the car either. Until the steering balance is adjusted with the small nut on the end of the control valve, the steering wheel can whip around turning the front wheels to full lock without being able to turn them straight until adjusted, and really hurting your arm if it is in the steering wheel spokes.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Doubt it, maybe too much tension on the worm gear adjustment? Do you have pressure from the pump? With the engine running, try just cracking the high pressure line at the valve. Is anything binding in the steering linkage? Just remember this is power-assisted steering.
Ed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Don't raech through the steering wheel when starting the car either. Until the steering balance is adjusted with the small nut on the end of the control valve, the steering wheel can whip around turning the front wheels to full lock without being able to turn them straight until adjusted, and really hurting your arm if it is in the steering wheel spokes.
Ed
