SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP
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...
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...
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?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 948
Likes: 0
From: Johnston Iowa
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (SIGNGUY)
I may not be 100% correct with my reasoning but this is what I observed on my 69 after replacing all of the front steering components including a new valve.
If the car is not started and sitting with all of the tires on the ground and I would get in the car and turn the wheel it seemed like I had play in the steering system. Once I started the car and balanced the valve I did not notice it at all. I wonder if once the system gets pressure to it you just do not notice it as much as you do when the car is not running.
Just my 2 cents worth.
If the car is not started and sitting with all of the tires on the ground and I would get in the car and turn the wheel it seemed like I had play in the steering system. Once I started the car and balanced the valve I did not notice it at all. I wonder if once the system gets pressure to it you just do not notice it as much as you do when the car is not running.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (SIGNGUY)
The valve does operate by means of the ball stud sliding side to side. With the engine off and the wheels on the ground, you will see the stud moving the extremes of the slot in the valve. With the engine on, you probably won't detect much motion because you are getting assist when the stud moves only a small amount.
The big question is how does your steering feel? If it feels fairly tight, and your valve doesn't leak, you are probably OK.
The big question is how does your steering feel? If it feels fairly tight, and your valve doesn't leak, you are probably OK.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (SIGNGUY)
i have replaced (or had check out) every steering component under there except for the valve...
the valve does not leak at all...
but when i finished installing the power steering ram i noticed (with the wheels off the ground) that when i moved the steering wheel back and forth...there was a lot of movement where the valve ball connects to the idler arm (?)...
movement to where the steering wheel and the idler arm (?) moved but the wheels didnt...ei play
everything else seems tight but it still wanders going down the road...AAARRGG!!! :mad
the valve does not leak at all...
but when i finished installing the power steering ram i noticed (with the wheels off the ground) that when i moved the steering wheel back and forth...there was a lot of movement where the valve ball connects to the idler arm (?)...
movement to where the steering wheel and the idler arm (?) moved but the wheels didnt...ei play
everything else seems tight but it still wanders going down the road...AAARRGG!!! :mad
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (SIGNGUY)
Sign, you might try a total act of faith and get under the car with engine running and wheels on ground, get g/f in a good mood, and feel the valve play with wheels being turned slightly side to side....sitting still is obviously the most loading,....if it's very slight play...it's ok, and what you are experiencing is typical ...on center...feel of a stock shark....
Hib Halverson complains of this a lot about sharks....just the way the steering is designed, not much road feel especially on center on a freeway....
only sure cure I ever found with rack and pinion steering....and that is even a bit 'light' feeling for me in my car....but then again I have a wider ratio rack than what steeroids supplies, I"m pretty sure anyway....
GENE
Hib Halverson complains of this a lot about sharks....just the way the steering is designed, not much road feel especially on center on a freeway....
only sure cure I ever found with rack and pinion steering....and that is even a bit 'light' feeling for me in my car....but then again I have a wider ratio rack than what steeroids supplies, I"m pretty sure anyway....
GENE
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (mrvette)
thanx gene...im goin under tomorrow!!
well...actually id have to have a 5" head to do that but i know what you mean...its right there near the side and i wont have to actually go "under the car" :)
i have really got some play left in it somewhere tho...drives me nuts!!
no pun intended LOL
and i WILL find it and fix it...
thanx again :yesnod:
well...actually id have to have a 5" head to do that but i know what you mean...its right there near the side and i wont have to actually go "under the car" :)
i have really got some play left in it somewhere tho...drives me nuts!!
no pun intended LOL
and i WILL find it and fix it...
thanx again :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (SIGNGUY)
Sign, you might jack it up with wheels flopped, and look at the side slop in the output shaft ( sector gear shaft) the one with the HUGE nut on it for the pittman arm..any side slop there adds to the problem....also check carefully for any looseness in the box itself, that gear mesh can ge CAREFULLY adjusted with car in air, wheels flopped...need loosen jamb nut and turn screw CCW?? a bit to pull the sector gear into the worm gear just a bit, maybe 1/8-1/4 turn is all you need...check for smooth operation with wheels flopped and engine on...NO BINDING anywhere is allowed...!!! you can feel it in the steering wheel easy if you have a light touch.....
GENE
GENE
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: SLOPPY CONTROL VALVE LINKAGE...PLEASE HELP (mrvette)
"side slop in the output shaft ( sector gear shaft) the one with the HUGE nut on it for the pittman arm"
thats exactly the one i mean...i mistakenly called it the idler arm...
what do i do about it???
when i saw the slop tho...the engine was NOT running...does that make a difference?
"also check carefully for any looseness in the box itself"
i just relaced it...brand new...
thanx again gene !
thats exactly the one i mean...i mistakenly called it the idler arm...
what do i do about it???
when i saw the slop tho...the engine was NOT running...does that make a difference?
"also check carefully for any looseness in the box itself"
i just relaced it...brand new...
thanx again gene !
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