power steering leak
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
power steering leak
my power steering system leaks. i understand this is a common problem with early C3's. but what is the source? will a new hose kit fix the problem, or is a complete rebiult kit req'd? if the hoses are the common problem, why can they be just re-tightened? or do they leak from the fitting crimps?
-thanks :cheers:
-thanks :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
Cam, doing my '80 NOW as we speak-took a "computer break". Most common leak spots is the "ram shaft" that works back and forth in and out of the cylinder. Wears at shaft and/or seal at shaft wears and leaks. My '80 appears to be leaking at the other "most common" area, which is the end of the "power valve", which is under high pump pressure. Seal wears out/goes bad in it. I had a rebuilt one of these I never used, so am trying it now. When I removed the hoses from the power valve, they ended up twisting and breaking(hoses from power steering pump) at tubing nut-they were original and the steel tubing inside was just rusted to the tubing nut-tried to be as careful and even used alot of heat, soaked with penetrating fluid, just rusted too bad to be reuseable.
[Modified by Paul Borowski, 3:14 PM 6/4/2002]
[Modified by Paul Borowski, 3:14 PM 6/4/2002]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: power steering leak (Paul Borowski)
thanks paul. i cleaned away all the dirt and grease, and was able to see the back of the pump was wet from fluid. also, to the ram body was showing a bit of fluid; it could be coming from either the flare fittings or the ram seal. or just could be from the pump, and has run down the outside of the hoses andf collected on the lowest point.
where to get replacement parts? do i need a new ram and control body, or can i service and clean them up? i am familar with hydraulics and have access to machine shops and proper tools.
here are some pics: http://members.shaw.ca/cam.grant/temp/103-0399_IMG.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/cam.grant/temp/103-0397_IMG.JPG
[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 5:17 PM 6/4/2002]
where to get replacement parts? do i need a new ram and control body, or can i service and clean them up? i am familar with hydraulics and have access to machine shops and proper tools.
here are some pics: http://members.shaw.ca/cam.grant/temp/103-0399_IMG.JPG http://members.shaw.ca/cam.grant/temp/103-0397_IMG.JPG
[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 5:17 PM 6/4/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 5
From: Orlando,Fl,USA
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
I had leaks in all area's mentioned and still need to replace the pwr steering pump . Everything else was replaced so it is pretty dry on the bottom end now. As a matter of fact it is the only area that drops oil because I had already replaced the engine, tranny, rear end rebuilt. There is no place left to leak at this point in time.. Sometimes a good turn with a wrench will fix things. With all the mvt & vibes it can tend to work loose.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
where to get replacement parts? do i need a new ram and control body, or can i service and clean them up? i am familar with hydraulics and have access to machine shops and proper tools.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
Ditto to the poster who mentioned Lucas Power Steering additive,...sure did the trick on my '72,..hasn't leaked a drop in more than a month now. For $6 or so it might be worth a shot and save you some frustration and knuckle busting!!: chevy Save The Wave!!! :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
Leaks can come from the high pressure hose off of the pump, the control valve, or the power steering rod. As others have suggested, clean the area well then start looking. The high pressure hose off of the pump often fails just because of the pressure, especialy when the hose is older. The control valve is often mentioned as leaking too.
Most of the catalogs have rebuild kits for all three components although the control valve can be a handful (I did mine last month). IMHO, adding stop leak or other wonder products is a band-aid. It only delays your repair because you aren't fixing the underlying problem.
Gary
Most of the catalogs have rebuild kits for all three components although the control valve can be a handful (I did mine last month). IMHO, adding stop leak or other wonder products is a band-aid. It only delays your repair because you aren't fixing the underlying problem.
Gary
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
To rebuild the valve and cylinder is realy not that hard. The rebuild kits from Zip were about $30.00 for both. The hoses were pricy @ $60. for the set. I just rebuilt both, changed hoses, and painted with por-15.
If you take your time, and lay out the parts in succession as you take them off... follow directions, you'll be amazed and what you can do!!! :cool: I would try rebuilding before I put up the big $$ for new stuff.
Good luck
Eddie
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
If you take your time, and lay out the parts in succession as you take them off... follow directions, you'll be amazed and what you can do!!! :cool: I would try rebuilding before I put up the big $$ for new stuff.
Good luck
Eddie
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: power steering leak (Silvr77)
actually, i am looking forward to rebuilding the ram, valve and pump myself. i am wondering how complete these rebuild kits are? Zip for example, do they contain pretty much all the right components? in specific, what about the kit for the pump?
also, my Haynes manual (for once) looks to be a pretty good reference, and has nice pictures and instructions. is there any better sources?
also, my Haynes manual (for once) looks to be a pretty good reference, and has nice pictures and instructions. is there any better sources?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: power steering leak (Turbo-Jet)
Cam, I seem to remember there are 2 stories online about how to rebuild power steering components. Not sure if they are on Corvettefaq.com or maybe the Zip website. Maybe also a corvette fever article in the last 2 years. You should be able to find a step-by-step how-to with pics online. I will look around a bit.
It was quite difficult for me to indentify my p/s leak. I cleaned up the entire area with simple green and still could not tell where the leak was coming from because it was dripping off the lowest point. I suspected the hoses, but was not sure until I wrapped the hoses with strips of towel, then wrapped the towels with aluminum foil!! With this setup it became very obvious one of the hoses had a split in it. I know it's a lot of fun to take everything apart and rebuild, but sometimes that isn't necessary. MJ
It was quite difficult for me to indentify my p/s leak. I cleaned up the entire area with simple green and still could not tell where the leak was coming from because it was dripping off the lowest point. I suspected the hoses, but was not sure until I wrapped the hoses with strips of towel, then wrapped the towels with aluminum foil!! With this setup it became very obvious one of the hoses had a split in it. I know it's a lot of fun to take everything apart and rebuild, but sometimes that isn't necessary. MJ
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: power steering leak (MNJack)
Here is one:
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...ng/steerp1.asp
There are many articles on http://www.corvettefaq.com
Looks like the Zip article on p/s rebuild is gone. MJ
[Modified by MNJack, 3:50 PM 6/5/2002]
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2000...ng/steerp1.asp
There are many articles on http://www.corvettefaq.com
Looks like the Zip article on p/s rebuild is gone. MJ
[Modified by MNJack, 3:50 PM 6/5/2002]
