1978 power steering.?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
1978 power steering.?
A day or so after I drove home..I was troubleshooting some lighting electrical problems..
Long story shortened..in that process I started the car and used-adjusted tilt & telescoping steering.I heard a grinding ratchety noise from the car when I turned the steering wheel.
I checked under the hood and belt & pulley are good and where they should be and belt properly tensioned..I checked the power steering fluid cold and also hot..and it seemed to be at a proper level..tho the cap-dipstck are a bit hard to get to for me.
Ayhow, I got some power steering fluid and siphoned out about one ounce..Then carefully put an ounce of new fluid in..Level checked good..and no hoses.....fittings leaking.Cap on snug.
Still makes that not good noise when car is running and steering wheel is turned..Even 15 degrees..Not lock to lock..
Q so how does one know when his power steering pump is failing..Not had any issues with steering or control on the road..BUT I'm not taking it out to drive until I know a bit more..Thank you, Jim
Long story shortened..in that process I started the car and used-adjusted tilt & telescoping steering.I heard a grinding ratchety noise from the car when I turned the steering wheel.
I checked under the hood and belt & pulley are good and where they should be and belt properly tensioned..I checked the power steering fluid cold and also hot..and it seemed to be at a proper level..tho the cap-dipstck are a bit hard to get to for me.
Ayhow, I got some power steering fluid and siphoned out about one ounce..Then carefully put an ounce of new fluid in..Level checked good..and no hoses.....fittings leaking.Cap on snug.
Still makes that not good noise when car is running and steering wheel is turned..Even 15 degrees..Not lock to lock..
Q so how does one know when his power steering pump is failing..Not had any issues with steering or control on the road..BUT I'm not taking it out to drive until I know a bit more..Thank you, Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
A few more facts might help. For instance:
1. How long have you owned your '78. Did this noise just start or has it made noise all along?
2. Have you listened to another Vette when you make the same steering inputs? Do they sound the same? It would be good to set them side by side.
3. With the car stopped on a concrete or asphalt surface, engine running, car in gear (automatic), car held in place by service brake, power steering pump will generally makes some sort of soft purring sound over center until you get near full lock.
4. Typically I would expect that the kind of noise you describe would also be followed by some lack of assist or degraded pump performance.
5. Off hand, I don't know how adjusting the T&T steering column would cause some form of ground out noise like you are describing.
Jim
1. How long have you owned your '78. Did this noise just start or has it made noise all along?
2. Have you listened to another Vette when you make the same steering inputs? Do they sound the same? It would be good to set them side by side.
3. With the car stopped on a concrete or asphalt surface, engine running, car in gear (automatic), car held in place by service brake, power steering pump will generally makes some sort of soft purring sound over center until you get near full lock.
4. Typically I would expect that the kind of noise you describe would also be followed by some lack of assist or degraded pump performance.
5. Off hand, I don't know how adjusting the T&T steering column would cause some form of ground out noise like you are describing.
Jim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 781
Likes: 113
A few more facts might help. For instance:
1. How long have you owned your '78. Did this noise just start or has it made noise all along?
2. Have you listened to another Vette when you make the same steering inputs? Do they sound the same? It would be good to set them side by side.
3. With the car stopped on a concrete or asphalt surface, engine running, car in gear (automatic), car held in place by service brake, power steering pump will generally makes some sort of soft purring sound over center until you get near full lock.
4. Typically I would expect that the kind of noise you describe would also be followed by some lack of assist or degraded pump performance.
5. Off hand, I don't know how adjusting the T&T steering column would cause some form of ground out noise like you are describing.
Jim
1. How long have you owned your '78. Did this noise just start or has it made noise all along?
2. Have you listened to another Vette when you make the same steering inputs? Do they sound the same? It would be good to set them side by side.
3. With the car stopped on a concrete or asphalt surface, engine running, car in gear (automatic), car held in place by service brake, power steering pump will generally makes some sort of soft purring sound over center until you get near full lock.
4. Typically I would expect that the kind of noise you describe would also be followed by some lack of assist or degraded pump performance.
5. Off hand, I don't know how adjusting the T&T steering column would cause some form of ground out noise like you are describing.
Jim
I feel pretty stoopid..
Hearing's not great.My son came by and I started the car and turned the steering wheel 1/4th turn left then right..Car is in the garage sitting on a nicely finished cement floor..THERE was that sound..Hood up..
WHAT I had heard was the 255/60 nearly new tires squeegeeing on the garage floor when the car was sitting and steering wheel was turned.....That was the source of the noise.Not fun sometimes being a VET, having brain surgery and being hard of hearing...added to being older than I ever thot I'd be..Jim
