power steering pump overhaul
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
power steering pump overhaul
Hi, my power steering pump has been leaking on my '69 350 manual so I'm trying to fit new seals. I've got the pump off and removed the pulley, but I can't see how to get inside to fit the seals. It looks like a round reservoir with a bottle stuck on the top. Is it a matter of forcing the casing away from the body? I don't see any other way of getting inside.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
You need to get a download of Jim_Shea 's papers on repair of the C3 power steering pump. They were listed on another thread in the past couple of days. Google "Jim Shea power steering" on the web and the site name will probably show up. Or you can send him a PM asking for info on the pump.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Pump Rebuild
Jim Shea is the best, google pump rebuild and you can find others like the second one I attached.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=831#attachments
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/...mp_rebuild.htm
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/stee...g-rebuild.html
Good luck, it's all about having fun.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=831#attachments
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/...mp_rebuild.htm
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/stee...g-rebuild.html
Good luck, it's all about having fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
There is a round o-ring that seats the pump assembly in the housing. A rubber mallet should help you get it off, you just need to be careful not to damage the housing. Additionally, besides the two mounting studs in the back of the pump, you also have to remove the fitting for the power steering hose.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
Power steering pump info
Hi, thanks to Sigforty, Mikep3, and 7T1vette for the information on the steering pump. I've printed Jim Shea's pages, so I'll take it apart tomorrow now I see how to remove the casing.
Regards,
Barry.
Regards,
Barry.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Good Luck! It is not a bad process once you get it apart. I pulled mine down about two months ago and rebuilt it. I painted it up with some Semi-gloss Rustoleum paint and put it back together.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
Hi, a few weeks ago I decided to rebuild my power steering pump, got the seals from Corvette Central and followed Jim Shea's instructions. All went well, except that when I put the reservoir or outer casing back on it leaked badly when I filled it up with fluid on the bench. Thinking the old reservoir must have become distended, I sent away to Corvette Central again and after about three weeks got a new one shipped to the UK at an overall cost of almost $200.
I bet you know what's coming next. Sure enough it leaked just as before. When I look at the simple O-ring, which is all that is between the pump mechanism and the reservoir, I can't see how it wouldn't leak -it's only a thin ring that fits into a groove, and it's a loose fit. It just looks like it's the wrong seal, but it's the same as the one I took off. How could this rubber O-ring make such a tight seal to keep the fluid in? Thanks.
I bet you know what's coming next. Sure enough it leaked just as before. When I look at the simple O-ring, which is all that is between the pump mechanism and the reservoir, I can't see how it wouldn't leak -it's only a thin ring that fits into a groove, and it's a loose fit. It just looks like it's the wrong seal, but it's the same as the one I took off. How could this rubber O-ring make such a tight seal to keep the fluid in? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Chances are it is NOT the 'same' seal. The original might be the same size, but the cross-sectional thickness of the replacement O-ring might be too small to seal. Send a PM to Jim_Shea and ask him about this issue. I'm sure he will have some knowledge he can share with you.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i just changed the shims on the valve body on mine for the steeroids rack and pinion steering to reduce the line pressure....i used some blue RTV on the two studs that you put into the back so the reservoir casing didnt leak around these.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
The oring (some replacements are now square cut orings) should stick up out of the groove a little and will be compressed against the surface of the groove and the can when the can is bolted down.
You should be able to find an nitril oring over there in a metric size that will work. There are a lot more metric sizes and thicknesses than SAE anyway.
Forgot to mention, I hope you are using the special stud to tighten the can to the pump housing.
You should be able to find an nitril oring over there in a metric size that will work. There are a lot more metric sizes and thicknesses than SAE anyway.
Forgot to mention, I hope you are using the special stud to tighten the can to the pump housing.
Last edited by noonie; May 16, 2011 at 02:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 178
Likes: 2
From: York UK
power steering pump update
Hi, thanks to everyone who offered some advice on the o-ring seal which fits around the pump body and keeps the fluid in the reservoir. The o-ring which I had been sent was just the wrong size, and in my ignorance I ordered a new reservoir thinking that this was the problem. I got a thicker ring locally and fitted that and even then it needed a smear of sealant before I finally got the pump back on the Vette.
I started her up today and was alarmed to find the steering wheel flying wildly from side to side continually until I switched off. Everything looked in order - hoses, belts, pulleys etc, and I was sure I had rebuilt the pump correctly. I e-mailed Jim Shea who immediately replied with a diagram which indicated that the hoses from valve to cylinder must cross over. This I did and sure enough, it now works fine. How come when I thought I was being so careful, and labelled all the hoses, I didn't notice this minor detail? Anyway it's fixed now, and for anyone who has the same problem, here's Jim Shea's link. Regards.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...oCylinder2.jpg
I started her up today and was alarmed to find the steering wheel flying wildly from side to side continually until I switched off. Everything looked in order - hoses, belts, pulleys etc, and I was sure I had rebuilt the pump correctly. I e-mailed Jim Shea who immediately replied with a diagram which indicated that the hoses from valve to cylinder must cross over. This I did and sure enough, it now works fine. How come when I thought I was being so careful, and labelled all the hoses, I didn't notice this minor detail? Anyway it's fixed now, and for anyone who has the same problem, here's Jim Shea's link. Regards.
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...oCylinder2.jpg
