Power steering issue.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Livonia Michigan
Power steering issue.
Due to the power steering control valve leaking fluid big time, I replaced the power steering control valve, and "while I was at it" I replaced the power steering cylinder and all four hoses.
I adjusted/balanced the valve per instructions.(with the cylinder still not yet connected at the frame, back and forth until balanced).
Everything seems great with the car in the air. When I drive it, it is as if I do not have power steering at all.
I have cycled the steering wheel left to right, while in the air to bleed dozens of times - no difference.
I drove the car thirty miles or so - no difference.
Prior to the new parts, the steering worked fine, just bled all over my garage floor.
Any ideas?
UPDATE 5-14-11: SEE BELOW
I adjusted/balanced the valve per instructions.(with the cylinder still not yet connected at the frame, back and forth until balanced).
Everything seems great with the car in the air. When I drive it, it is as if I do not have power steering at all.
I have cycled the steering wheel left to right, while in the air to bleed dozens of times - no difference.
I drove the car thirty miles or so - no difference.
Prior to the new parts, the steering worked fine, just bled all over my garage floor.
Any ideas?
UPDATE 5-14-11: SEE BELOW
Last edited by thnk2mch; May 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM. Reason: UPDATE
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 1
From: Mt. Prospect IL
I went through a problem like this -- There are so many threads on this, you can search for mine. I bought all new parts then started--worked in air but not on the ground. to save money I rebuilt all the new parts one at a time, when that did not work, I then started replacing the new parts one at a time with other new parts (I had already sent the cores in). I found out I had purchased a bad cylinder, even after rebuild it did not work. I basically ended up buying 2 sets of everything. Who would think a cylinder could be bad? It worked in the air. After you have done all the line checking, bleeding and adjusting, If you still have the old parts just troubleshoot with them one at a time to narrow the problem. Good Luck.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS!! I started replacing power steering control valaves 2 years ago, going thru the set-up just like you all did. I bought mine thru Auto Zone and ATZCO in Arizona is the re-builder for the units that Auto Zone buys from. I followed all the instructions to the letter about greasing them.....guess what, if you pump too much grease in them you blow out the gasket between the valve body and the hydraulic side which will cause them to leak. I went thru 7 different pscv units before I finally gave up on the Auto Zone (ATZCO) and bought a new aftermarket unit from "Corvette Sport" in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, they sell CARDONE pscv and has better instructions with them. After research I found that CARDONE is one of the most respected suppliers of aftermarket parts...along with "LONESTAR". I will be buying all of my parts from CORVETTE SPORT from now on. They shipped me my part before I could ship them the core, they are GREAT TO DEAL WITH. Good Luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If your present power steering system is working but leaking, why would you spend big buck$ on buying rebuilt equipment [that may NOT work] when you can rebuild your own (functional) control valve for pocket change and have it up and running in a day???
Buy a $25 rebuild kit for the control valve, get your hands dirty...heck, they already are--you took it off the car...take it apart, clean it, put in new seals, paint it and reinstall. Why take the chance on vendor-rebuilt junk when you already have a 'serviceable' part?
Buy a $25 rebuild kit for the control valve, get your hands dirty...heck, they already are--you took it off the car...take it apart, clean it, put in new seals, paint it and reinstall. Why take the chance on vendor-rebuilt junk when you already have a 'serviceable' part?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Livonia Michigan
Thanks for all the responses...
Bought a new one, not rebuilt. I saw the rebuild kits, but I did not want to "guess" that what I would get in the kit would take care of my issues, and risk having to take it back out and buy new anyways. I am no expert.
My thought was if I was going to spend a day on it, I would go new and not have to worry about it.
If your present power steering system is working but leaking, why would you spend big buck$ on buying rebuilt equipment [that may NOT work] when you can rebuild your own (functional) control valve for pocket change and have it up and running in a day???
Buy a $25 rebuild kit for the control valve, get your hands dirty...heck, they already are--you took it off the car...take it apart, clean it, put in new seals, paint it and reinstall. Why take the chance on vendor-rebuilt junk when you already have a 'serviceable' part?
Buy a $25 rebuild kit for the control valve, get your hands dirty...heck, they already are--you took it off the car...take it apart, clean it, put in new seals, paint it and reinstall. Why take the chance on vendor-rebuilt junk when you already have a 'serviceable' part?
My thought was if I was going to spend a day on it, I would go new and not have to worry about it.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
From: Asheville N.C.
Same thing for me, except from my previous owner's rebuild system, it was stiff when I bought it, so I just bought a new Lonestar (since it was leaking) and it's still stiff not sure what to do either, but I understand your situation and hope we can figure it out because it should be easier than it is. 
Ed
not sure what to do either, but I understand your situation and hope we can figure it out because it should be easier than it is. Ed
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Livonia Michigan
Update:
After many different attempts at resolving my power steering issues, like removing the new hoses and checking for blockage and reinstalling, having the power steering control valve I purchase exchanged for another one and reinstalling, and swapping back to my previous cylinder all with no difference, I replaced the power steering pump and
!
Power steering works great.
Go figure...
After many different attempts at resolving my power steering issues, like removing the new hoses and checking for blockage and reinstalling, having the power steering control valve I purchase exchanged for another one and reinstalling, and swapping back to my previous cylinder all with no difference, I replaced the power steering pump and
!Power steering works great.
Go figure...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 3
From: Goshen IN
Same thing for me. First replaced control valve(new),power steering cylinder, 2nd hoses, pump(reblt)-all from Eklers. No difference. How difficult is it to check the pressure from the pump? I'm beginning to think the trouble is in the steering box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,453
Likes: 976
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I must say that I am sold on rebuilding the power steering components myself since I definitely do not trust any rebuilt components. just went through this with the PS pump. Decided to rebuild it myself with a $20 kit and it works perfectly and it is the original one with my 78 L-82 4Speed with 65,000 miles on it. It was relatively easy!!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 44
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Check some of the older Power Steering threads. Jim Shea has written about this as well as others. If you didn't bleed the system properly when you started it back up you may have gotten the pressure relief valve spool in the pump jammed. You might be lucky enough to get it loose with a magnet or you may have to pull the pump to get it loose. Then before you start it up make certain you turn the wheel lock to lock several times to 'bleed' the system before you actually start it up. If you didn't properly bleed the system when you reassembled all the new components, there is a very good chance you jammed the valve spool. If it is jammed it will drive like there is no power steering.
Unk
Unk