Steering Locking Up
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Install narrower front tires? But, if the tires aren't rubbing, one (or more) of the steering ballstuds may be badly worn and binding up when it goes to full-lock position. Put front end on jack stands, remove the wheels, and watch the steering components' action as the wheel is turned throughout its operating range. If you see two components that don't appear to work together as they should, that may be your problem. You can also check ball joint condition (with the tires installed) by checking side-to-side and up-to-down movement of the wheels.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Livingston TN
the simplest thing to check is the rag joint where your steering column shaft mates to the input shaft of the gear box. check that. mine was ripped and causing it to become very sticky and bind at certain places when turning
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
I have now replaced the rag joint. Unfortunately, the problem persists. Someone mentioned that I might need to balance the power steering control valve. Does that sound plausible to you?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
I would check the balance, but if it doesnt pull when centered, its not likely the cause. The most likely cause would be a binding or kinking of hoses or valve on the frame at full turn. Check it to see if anything is binding or touching the frame. Check it with the car on the ground.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Borgeson power steering box???
tarzan,
Sounds like your 37 year old steering components are starting to show their age. If you replace or recondition the box, ram and control valve, you'll have spent well over a grand, nearer to two if you send them stateside.
I would recommend you consider a Borgeson integral power steering box that has the control valve and ram built in to it. I have one in my '74 and it made the world of difference. The Vette steers like a new car and has none of the full boost wander that most old Vettes have.
Contact Pro Steer Down Under www.pro-steer.com.au on info@allvet.com.au and get the good oil.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Sounds like your 37 year old steering components are starting to show their age. If you replace or recondition the box, ram and control valve, you'll have spent well over a grand, nearer to two if you send them stateside.
I would recommend you consider a Borgeson integral power steering box that has the control valve and ram built in to it. I have one in my '74 and it made the world of difference. The Vette steers like a new car and has none of the full boost wander that most old Vettes have.
Contact Pro Steer Down Under www.pro-steer.com.au on info@allvet.com.au and get the good oil.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
tarzan,
Sounds like your 37 year old steering components are starting to show their age. If you replace or recondition the box, ram and control valve, you'll have spent well over a grand, nearer to two if you send them stateside.
I would recommend you consider a Borgeson integral power steering box that has the control valve and ram built in to it. I have one in my '74 and it made the world of difference. The Vette steers like a new car and has none of the full boost wander that most old Vettes have.
Contact Pro Steer Down Under www.pro-steer.com.au on info@allvet.com.au and get the good oil.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Sounds like your 37 year old steering components are starting to show their age. If you replace or recondition the box, ram and control valve, you'll have spent well over a grand, nearer to two if you send them stateside.
I would recommend you consider a Borgeson integral power steering box that has the control valve and ram built in to it. I have one in my '74 and it made the world of difference. The Vette steers like a new car and has none of the full boost wander that most old Vettes have.
Contact Pro Steer Down Under www.pro-steer.com.au on info@allvet.com.au and get the good oil.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
You didn't mention if anything happened before the problem started. Or possibly it always was there since you purchased the car? I was going to say that you have the wrong pitman arm on the gear. There are two different arms. They look very much alike. However, the manual arm (if used with power steering) can interfere with the control valve, tipping the stud, and causing it to jam.
Obviously, you just don't go an replace a pitman arm out of the blue. So if things were working properly previously, then the arm is most likely not the culprit.
The manual steering pitman arm has the numbers 3829452 forged or cast on the arm. It was used on 1963 through 1976 manual steering Corvettes.
The power steering pitman arm had the numbers 3741383 usually with an "A" or "B" suffix. It was used on 1963 through 1982 Corvettes with power steering. It was also used on all full size 1958 -62 passenger cars as well as 63 and 64 full size passenger cars with power steering.
Here are the addresses of two pictures of the arms:
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...rmsTopView.jpg
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...mssideview.jpg
Jim
Obviously, you just don't go an replace a pitman arm out of the blue. So if things were working properly previously, then the arm is most likely not the culprit.
The manual steering pitman arm has the numbers 3829452 forged or cast on the arm. It was used on 1963 through 1976 manual steering Corvettes.
The power steering pitman arm had the numbers 3741383 usually with an "A" or "B" suffix. It was used on 1963 through 1982 Corvettes with power steering. It was also used on all full size 1958 -62 passenger cars as well as 63 and 64 full size passenger cars with power steering.
Here are the addresses of two pictures of the arms:
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...rmsTopView.jpg
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y38...mssideview.jpg
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
I may be off-base, but I recall having this issue with my first '69 and as I remember (I'm getting old 
there were two holes on the steering knuckle; one for power steering and one for manual. Using the rear hole with power steering would cause the symptoms you describe.
Again...it's been a while - so this may just be so much BS
there were two holes on the steering knuckle; one for power steering and one for manual. Using the rear hole with power steering would cause the symptoms you describe.Again...it's been a while - so this may just be so much BS
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Maybe something bad happening in the steering box? How much grease is in it?
If you lift the front end, and turn the steering with the engine off, does it still bind? That will tell you if your problem is mechanical or hydraulic.
If you lift the front end, and turn the steering with the engine off, does it still bind? That will tell you if your problem is mechanical or hydraulic.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Hard to believe you when I see the wheels and tyres on the car in your avatar.
Still, I respect your viewpoint, but if you ever get the chance to drive a car with a Borgeson box fitted, don't knock it back. There's at least one Vette in Cairns with one fitted, as well as a Mustang at Mareeba. I was up there last year and spoke to the owner out at the airport.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Cairns Queensland
Tarz,
Hard to believe you when I see the wheels and tyres on the car in your avatar.
Still, I respect your viewpoint, but if you ever get the chance to drive a car with a Borgeson box fitted, don't knock it back. There's at least one Vette in Cairns with one fitted, as well as a Mustang at Mareeba. I was up there last year and spoke to the owner out at the airport.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Hard to believe you when I see the wheels and tyres on the car in your avatar.
Still, I respect your viewpoint, but if you ever get the chance to drive a car with a Borgeson box fitted, don't knock it back. There's at least one Vette in Cairns with one fitted, as well as a Mustang at Mareeba. I was up there last year and spoke to the owner out at the airport.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Did you check the casting numbers on your pitman arm? Having a manual arm on a power steering application can cause the "stick in left turn" condition that you mention. The two arms look very much alike. But they have subtle differences that could cause your problem.
jim
jim