Steering problem...please help!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Steering problem...please help!
Hello All!
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
Here's the background story of what's happening. I'm new to working on my car myself and can't find any treads with something similar.
I have a vette I've been slowly bringing back to road worthy. So unfortunately I've had my vette in the garage sitting for about 8-9 months unable to work on it. Finally got some free time and noticed a little oil and some power steering fluid on the floor.
Checked both. Power steering was pretty much bone dry. So I filled it up and drive it to the exhaust shop to have my new exhaust put on.
On the way to my parents house after for a visit the steering wheel seemed to turn on its on pressure without the car steering. Almost like it was centering the steering wheel after a turn, but I was going straight and the car didn't turn. It re-gripped and drove fine. It Didn't do that the rest of the trip to their house. Then on my way home it started happening frequently enough I thought about calling a tow truck.
Any thoughts what this random free turning wheel could be?
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!
Here's the background story of what's happening. I'm new to working on my car myself and can't find any treads with something similar.
I have a vette I've been slowly bringing back to road worthy. So unfortunately I've had my vette in the garage sitting for about 8-9 months unable to work on it. Finally got some free time and noticed a little oil and some power steering fluid on the floor.
Checked both. Power steering was pretty much bone dry. So I filled it up and drive it to the exhaust shop to have my new exhaust put on.
On the way to my parents house after for a visit the steering wheel seemed to turn on its on pressure without the car steering. Almost like it was centering the steering wheel after a turn, but I was going straight and the car didn't turn. It re-gripped and drove fine. It Didn't do that the rest of the trip to their house. Then on my way home it started happening frequently enough I thought about calling a tow truck.
Any thoughts what this random free turning wheel could be?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
It probably has air in the steering system. To remove the air, jack up the front, make sure the PS pump is full and with the engine off, turn the steering wheel full left to right several times and recheck the fluid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 469
From: Wichita Kansas
air in the lines
Maybe you were so low on fluid that after you filled it up, it had air trapped in the system? After you filled it up, did you turned the steering wheel all the way one way and all the way the other way a few times with the ps cap off?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
And if that doesn't solve the issue then I'd take a look at the control valve. It may either be bad and bleeding off to one side or it may just need re-centering.
Below is how to center the valve, just click on supporting document when you get there.
1963-1982 Corvette Power Steering Cylinder Adjustment
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Trying to get the air out seems to have made it worse. After I did that I took it for a test drive. Half way down the block the steering wheel felt completely disengaged and started spinning freely with the car not turning at all. It re-gripped and I turned around and went home. And the steering wheel did that free spin on the way home as well.
any ideas?
any ideas?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
How far did the steering wheel 'free spin' without the front wheels turning? I'd recommend checking the rag joint (it's under the hood, and connects the steering column shaft to the steering gearbox). To check it, you'll probably need someone to turn the steering wheel back and forth with the engine off while you're watching it under the hood. There should be no 'slop' between the steering shaft and the steering gearbox.
Google 'steering rag joint' if you need a picture.
Google 'steering rag joint' if you need a picture.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,116
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Wow scary!
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Go to the valve and try to center it.. if this fails remove the valve, call Tommy and get a rebuild kit and then watch our video on how to rebuild the valve..