power steering problems for newbie
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
power steering problems for newbie
First off the car is a 74 with the 350 4 speed.
i installed a new steering control valve and hoses to steering cylinder.
when i tried to center the control valve ( issues getting car to idle) i noticed a slight amount of smoke coming from car. shut the car down and the power steering pump was the culprit. housing was so hot that oil residue was burning off. Figured ok need new pump, installed new pump and new fluid , ran steering cylinder in and out by hand to get some of the air out before starting car. Started car (still having issues on idleing) noticed smoke again. shut off car and now i have power steering fluid spraying from the power steering control valve housing, and the reservoir on pump is too hot to touch???????
Anybody got any ideas? Car had been running approx 5 min before smoking occured.
thanks
i installed a new steering control valve and hoses to steering cylinder.
when i tried to center the control valve ( issues getting car to idle) i noticed a slight amount of smoke coming from car. shut the car down and the power steering pump was the culprit. housing was so hot that oil residue was burning off. Figured ok need new pump, installed new pump and new fluid , ran steering cylinder in and out by hand to get some of the air out before starting car. Started car (still having issues on idleing) noticed smoke again. shut off car and now i have power steering fluid spraying from the power steering control valve housing, and the reservoir on pump is too hot to touch???????
Anybody got any ideas? Car had been running approx 5 min before smoking occured.
thanks
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
i had replaced the hoses about 6 months ago, i had replaced the steering valve maybe a month ago but didnt center it at that time. the cylinder just moved lightly out while unhooked. Decided to center it because it was kind of jerky when first turning into a corner. Have had a tough time getting car to idle so when i had the front lifted to work on steering was when the pump got extremely hot the first time. that is when i assumed the pump was bad so i replaced it. car ran for about 5 min (trying to get it to idle) thats when i noticed fluid spraying from the end of the valve.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
[QUOTE=heman_267;1592317036]i had replaced the hoses about 6 months ago, i had replaced the steering valve maybe a month ago but didnt center it at that time. the cylinder just moved lightly out while unhooked. Decided to center it because it was kind of jerky when first turning into a corner. Have had a tough time getting car to idle so when i had the front lifted to work on steering was when the pump got extremely hot the first time. that is when i assumed the pump was bad so i replaced it. car ran for about 5 min (trying to get it to idle) thats when i noticed fluid spraying from the end of the valve.[/QUOTE
got me to wondering if the cylinder is fully extended or retracted if that causes a blockage in the flow of the fluid and will cause the pump to overheat because of it?????
got me to wondering if the cylinder is fully extended or retracted if that causes a blockage in the flow of the fluid and will cause the pump to overheat because of it?????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
I don't understand what you're saying here. You had been able to drive the car, although the steering didn't feel right. What did you do just before the pump started overheating?
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
yes , i have been able to drive the car. when i replaced the valve about a month ago i knew it wasnt centered but was just creeping out slowly. it didnt extend fully immediately. was in a rush to drive so decided it could wait. last week decided to center the valve (rain forecasted for all week). jacked the front up and unhooked the cylinder. started the car and couldnt get it to idle (worked on vent cables, may have knocked a vacuum line off in console?). had ran for about 5 min when i noticed a slight smoke coming from the front of the car. shut it off and opened the hood. the pump was hot enough that the oil residue on it was smoking. cylinder was fully extended at this time. assumed i needed a new pump so didnt mess with the car til pump came in. installed new pump, fluid, turned the adjusting nut on valve before starting car maybe a full turn. started the car (still wouldnt idle) cylinder fully retracted during this time. had managed to get out of the car and was operating throttle by hand when i noticed power steering fluid spraying out from somewhere on the valve. shut car down , cleaned up the mess and walked away.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Because the valve wasn't centered, the cylinder extended all the way and caused high pressure at the pump. There was no problem with either pump, they were making pressure just like they should. The engine didn't idle right because the steering pump was at full pressure, adding load to the engine. Adjust the control valve to get it centered and likely it will be ok.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
Because the valve wasn't centered, the cylinder extended all the way and caused high pressure at the pump. There was no problem with either pump, they were making pressure just like they should. The engine didn't idle right because the steering pump was at full pressure, adding load to the engine. Adjust the control valve to get it centered and likely it will be ok.
thanks guys, will post if its not and will probably rebuild the valve this time
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
Because the valve wasn't centered, the cylinder extended all the way and caused high pressure at the pump. There was no problem with either pump, they were making pressure just like they should. The engine didn't idle right because the steering pump was at full pressure, adding load to the engine. Adjust the control valve to get it centered and likely it will be ok.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
I didn't realize that could happen (pump overheating) during a control valve adjustment. I would have thought there would be a bypass valve or pressure reg of some sort in the pump to prevent that. I guess it's the same as holding the wheel against the stop when turning, but I've never done that long enough to know whether that would overheat the pump. Learned something new...
My recommendation is to replace the whole shooting match, except for the pump, with a Borgeson integral power steering box kit. Call Jeff at Borgeson on 1-860-482-8283 or www.borgeson.com.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
My recommendation is to replace the whole shooting match, except for the pump, with a Borgeson integral power steering box kit. Call Jeff at Borgeson on 1-860-482-8283 or www.borgeson.com.
Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 21
From: Milford, CT
Because the valve wasn't centered, the cylinder extended all the way and caused high pressure at the pump. There was no problem with either pump, they were making pressure just like they should. The engine didn't idle right because the steering pump was at full pressure, adding load to the engine. Adjust the control valve to get it centered and likely it will be ok.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
I'm curious, was that a rebuilt GM valve or an imported repro? It's still not clear to me how this happened. Like aussiejohn said, if the valve was adjusted to one side, that should have made a heckuva racket, just like holding the wheel at the lock. I also don't think that situation should blow the seal out of the valve. There would be dead cars all over the road if it was that easy.
Last edited by 454Luvr; Jun 3, 2016 at 01:56 PM.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Rogers Arkansas
I'm curious, was that a rebuilt GM valve or an imported repro? It's still not clear to me how this happened. Like aussiejohn said, if the valve was adjusted to one side, that should have made a heckuva racket, just like holding the wheel at the lock. I also don't think that situation should blow the seal out of the valve. There would be dead cars all over the road if it was that easy.