steering going out?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Columbus Mississippi
steering going out?
so ive been having this problem for a while now and have tried to fix it myself as well as took it to the shop but to no avail. so i figure ill let CF chew on it. in my 86 when i go to turn to the right, usually most severely coming out of the parking lot etc. i can turn the wheel to the right about a 1/4 turn before it feels like it hits the stop. if i keep pushing it will break free and i can get the full range of motion... that is till i go back to the left and try to go right again. i checked the fluid and it looked like crap so i replaced it and found some sludge at the bottom (previous owners 
) so i worked out all of the bubbles i put in there and took it to the shop. had them suck out the fluid, run a cleaner through it and replace the fluid. after that it drove beautifully till the next day. i went to go drive it and the problem was even worse. so... im not so sure what is goign on. what i figured was that one of the lines was being blocked or even worse, that the rack is going out. if so, how much / hard do y'all think that would cost to fix? any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks! 
) so i worked out all of the bubbles i put in there and took it to the shop. had them suck out the fluid, run a cleaner through it and replace the fluid. after that it drove beautifully till the next day. i went to go drive it and the problem was even worse. so... im not so sure what is goign on. what i figured was that one of the lines was being blocked or even worse, that the rack is going out. if so, how much / hard do y'all think that would cost to fix? any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 33
From: Van Steel Corvettes
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
It's really not TOO hard to replace. I did mine last year. Took about 8 hours with a long lunch break. It's really only hard because there is just no room to work. There is a lot of wrenching but with only a click or two at a time. With air tools I probably could have done it in half the time. I don't know if the earlier C4's have this issue, but on my 96 when the water pump went out, it caused the belt on the powersteering pulley to slip causing the steering to just go out. Doesn't sound exactly what you are going through, but it's certainly worth checking before replacing parts. Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 765
steering rack - typical problem for the c4's. did my 85 about 6 or 7 years ago. wasn't a hard job, but a little time comsuming. suggestion: get a delco rebuilt unit. i got mine from the last detail - at the time, they had the best price. seems to me the only tool i didn't have and had to buy was an 18mm flair nut wrench. 
Last edited by Joe C; Feb 10, 2009 at 04:52 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,234
Likes: 699
From: Clifton Park, NY ............Clearwater, FL ... 85 Original Owner
before you do any repairs, defiantly try a treatment of Lucas PS treatment. My rack was giving me trouble about 5 years ago. Hard steering in cold weather. Not anymore after treating.
No problems since.
No problems since.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 14,168
Likes: 943
From: Fremont Ca
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
As stated the rack is going.This is a problem in all Corvettes from 84 to maybe 88.If somebody has a Corvette and the rack has never been replaced,it will go out,guaranteed.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
I agree with Joslinm, I was having the same problem put in the Lucas Power Steering Treatment..no more problems...
