Steering wheel turning itself while stopped.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
Steering wheel turning itself while stopped.
While doing some brake work I noticed my power steering was leaking badly. Upon further investigation I found one of the hoses to be loose on the pump. I tightened it up and filled up the resevoir. Now my steering wheel wants to to go right quite forcibly. If I let go of my steering wheel for a second it juts to the right but the car is showing aligned up on the machine. Even while stopped if i just slightly let the car roll the wheel will start turning itself to the right. Video of my at a stoplight this morning attached. I am assuming this is a power steering issue of my 1982. Should I just replace the whole system with a BORG setup?
Last edited by pleasants9; Apr 5, 2017 at 12:39 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA
There is a fix for this but I forgot exactly what it is. It's something like jacking the front of the car in the air and turning lock to lock twenty times or something like that. I hope that is all it takes for you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 582
From: West Monroe Louisiana
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If this wasn't a problem before you found the leak and tightened, odds
are that you just have air in the system.
As mentioned above, jack the front end up so the tires are free.
Then while cold, as first thing in morning, turn the wheels lock to lock for about 2 dozen times
without engine running, then check the fluid reservoir for any air bubbles. When
no air bubbles appear, you should be good to go.
Donnie
are that you just have air in the system.
As mentioned above, jack the front end up so the tires are free.
Then while cold, as first thing in morning, turn the wheels lock to lock for about 2 dozen times
without engine running, then check the fluid reservoir for any air bubbles. When
no air bubbles appear, you should be good to go.
Donnie
Last edited by DonnieP73; Apr 5, 2017 at 02:01 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 216
Likes: 16
From: Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire
Good timing of the video, I was replacing the return hose on my power steering and when I started up with the wheels off the ground my steering went hard right, a quick tweak of the adjustment and all is well, took about 1/2 a turn to get it right I guess, looks like someone had been there before as the cap is missing.
Graham
Graham
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
There is a centering adjustment on the P/S control valve. BUT, I suspect that the control valve on your car hasn't been changed or adjusted previously. If this is the case, the only way your car can behave in that manner is if the control valve has a problem internally.
I would suggest that you rebuild your control valve and (if the hoses are many years old) replace the hoses while you are in there. Once reinstalled with front end still in the air, turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times BEFORE you start the car; then do the same AFTER you start the car. This will get rid of any trapped air in the system. Then center the wheel and see if it wants to drift off to right or left on its own. If it does, remove the cap at the outboard end of the control valve and adjust that nut so that there is no tendency for the centered wheel to move on its own.
I would suggest that you rebuild your control valve and (if the hoses are many years old) replace the hoses while you are in there. Once reinstalled with front end still in the air, turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock several times BEFORE you start the car; then do the same AFTER you start the car. This will get rid of any trapped air in the system. Then center the wheel and see if it wants to drift off to right or left on its own. If it does, remove the cap at the outboard end of the control valve and adjust that nut so that there is no tendency for the centered wheel to move on its own.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 8, 2017 at 12:42 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
I did the motor off, turning steering wheel procedure 24 times with no change. Then I did the adjustment procedure with the valve and that had a big effect. Steering is no very close to centered, maybe pulls slightly left and is much tighter as well. Might try to get down and make one more small adjustment but overall very happy with the results.