SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE???
well...i replaced my steering ram today and i thought that was the end of my steering component replacement for a while...
much to my dismay...while sitting at the left front wheel while my g/f turned the wheel back and forth to bleed it i noticed a lot of play in the ball link on the control valve... :confused:
whats the deal with this? i once asked how id know if the valve needed replacement and was told that if it didnt leak, it was ok...
well...i guess technicaly they were right but what i think i need is this...
1- am i right?
2- if so...is it hard to replace?
3- will i need to re-bleed the system again?
much to my dismay...while sitting at the left front wheel while my g/f turned the wheel back and forth to bleed it i noticed a lot of play in the ball link on the control valve... :confused:
whats the deal with this? i once asked how id know if the valve needed replacement and was told that if it didnt leak, it was ok...
well...i guess technicaly they were right but what i think i need is this...
1- am i right?
2- if so...is it hard to replace?
3- will i need to re-bleed the system again?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE??? (SIGNGUY)
The valve has an internal adjustment for the ball & socket.
You have to disassemble the valve to make the adjustment, and there is a steel shim gasket between the halves of the valve that usually must be replaced when you disassemble the valve. The gasket & seals come in a rebuild kit.
GM used to sell a valve ball/socket/seal/gasket kit for cases where the ball stud etc was worn out. Don't know if it's still available.
I would try the gasket/seal kit first (along with an adjustment), and if it doesn't help, then get a NEW valve. The rebuilt units don't seem to be very reliable..... poor workmanship.
When you remove the old valve, be sure not to mess up the male threads on the rod, or the female threads in the valve.... Bubba usually accomplishes this by sticking a screwdriver in the slot (where the nut/bolt tightens) to unscrew the valve from the rod. Use a pipe wrench instead.
You will have to "re-bleed" the system after the repair... but IMOP bleeding a PS syetm is simple.
The adjustment I am referring to is NOT the adjustment that is for centering the valve, which is the small nut under the grease cap at the end of the valve.
You have to disassemble the valve to make the adjustment, and there is a steel shim gasket between the halves of the valve that usually must be replaced when you disassemble the valve. The gasket & seals come in a rebuild kit.
GM used to sell a valve ball/socket/seal/gasket kit for cases where the ball stud etc was worn out. Don't know if it's still available.
I would try the gasket/seal kit first (along with an adjustment), and if it doesn't help, then get a NEW valve. The rebuilt units don't seem to be very reliable..... poor workmanship.
When you remove the old valve, be sure not to mess up the male threads on the rod, or the female threads in the valve.... Bubba usually accomplishes this by sticking a screwdriver in the slot (where the nut/bolt tightens) to unscrew the valve from the rod. Use a pipe wrench instead.
You will have to "re-bleed" the system after the repair... but IMOP bleeding a PS syetm is simple.
The adjustment I am referring to is NOT the adjustment that is for centering the valve, which is the small nut under the grease cap at the end of the valve.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE??? (Tom454)
I had a hard time getting my metal seal holding tightly around the valve ball joint. I see the kit you have pictured above has the screw down seal. Where is it from?
[Modified by Eddie 96, 8:13 AM 6/25/2002]
[Modified by Eddie 96, 8:13 AM 6/25/2002]
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE??? (Eddie 96)
thank you both for your help...
the kit is from ZIP and its $37 and change...
is it the kit for me?
i hate to replace the whole valve when it is otherwise working fine and not leaking...
the kit is from ZIP and its $37 and change...
is it the kit for me?
i hate to replace the whole valve when it is otherwise working fine and not leaking...
