Steering Rack not working while parked....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
Steering Rack not working while parked....
I had a rebuilt sport rack installed in my 1989 Z51 6-speed with new power steering fluid. The first day it drove great. The steering was working in all areas while operating the car. The next day, it started to have a problem. The problem is when I'm parked. The steering is REALLY hard to turn when parked and some times it won't turn at all. However, when the car starts rolling the steering works and while I'm driving the steering works fine, but when I'm parked I can barely turn the steering wheel. Does anyone have any idea what is going on ? Thank you.
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Feb 25, 2021 at 09:29 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Contact rebuilder for guidance it could be internal leakage within rack.
Did you flush out old fluid? Flow valve in pump could be sticking. Flow valve is behind the 1 inch fitting high pressure hose attaches to. There is a pressure gauge to evaluate P.S. steering system. Dealer will have tool IDK if.independent shop will.
Did you flush out old fluid? Flow valve in pump could be sticking. Flow valve is behind the 1 inch fitting high pressure hose attaches to. There is a pressure gauge to evaluate P.S. steering system. Dealer will have tool IDK if.independent shop will.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
Thank you Kevova, yes the old fluid was flushed out. The steering is really hard to turn while parked. When it starts rolling and I'm driving it works fine. Has this happened to anyone else ?
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Feb 25, 2021 at 09:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
Well, I performed the test. First, while stationary I tried to turn the steering wheel (without revving the engine) and it was really hard to turn -- it did not turn much at all. Next, I revved the engine a little while stationary and the steering did turn -- it was still hard to turn, but it did turn side-to side when I revved the engine and I heard a whining sound, which sounded like it was coming fom the power steering pump area. Does this sound like the power steering pump is failing ? Thank you !
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Feb 26, 2021 at 01:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
I appreciate the input, Nomake Wan. I'm no expert, but I think it's the steering pump too. The car just had a rebuilt rack installed and a day later the steering pump had this problem. Someone mentioned it could be some debris in the power steering pump keeping a valve open (I think that's what they said), but it has new fluid in it. Anyway, I'm going to drive the car for a while and see if it improves, if not, then replace the power steering pump. Thank you.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Do you trust the shop that did the work for you?
I ask because I had a shop replace the steering rack on one of my other cars once, and the very next day the pump seized and obliterated the belt, leaving me stranded. They claimed that it was the rack's fault (which is BS; the only way a pump seizes is if it doesn't get any fluid through it, meaning they screwed something up). They replaced the pump for the cost of the pump. This replacement pump failed the exact same way a day later. The rack and pump were then replaced by the dealer and everything was fine afterwards.
I ask because I had a shop replace the steering rack on one of my other cars once, and the very next day the pump seized and obliterated the belt, leaving me stranded. They claimed that it was the rack's fault (which is BS; the only way a pump seizes is if it doesn't get any fluid through it, meaning they screwed something up). They replaced the pump for the cost of the pump. This replacement pump failed the exact same way a day later. The rack and pump were then replaced by the dealer and everything was fine afterwards.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
I appreciate your concern and personal experience, Nomake. Honestly, the alignment guy who installed the rack seems like an honest man and I don't know if he made a mistake or not. I had the rebuilt steering rack shipped to me and brought it to him and the power steering pump is the original pump. Well, I've had the car for 21 years and it's never been replaced since I've owned the car. I'm the second owner. I really don't know the reason why the pump is failing like this and the mechanic hasn't given me enough reason to suspect it's because of him. It's a frustrating situation.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Does this "alignment guy" know anything about C4 Corvettes in specific?
It just isn't right. The car was fine until it needed a new rack. The moment the new rack was installed it's now exhibiting a problem that never existed, with all signs pointing towards the pump failing. While I agree that the pump is the most likely culprit for the noise you're experiencing...I just would hate to have you go down the same hole I did, where the second pump does the same thing.
Best of luck.
It just isn't right. The car was fine until it needed a new rack. The moment the new rack was installed it's now exhibiting a problem that never existed, with all signs pointing towards the pump failing. While I agree that the pump is the most likely culprit for the noise you're experiencing...I just would hate to have you go down the same hole I did, where the second pump does the same thing.
Best of luck.
Last edited by Nomake Wan; Feb 27, 2021 at 12:56 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
Hi Nomake, I can't argue against what you're saying. I was grieved when the steering pump went a day after the rack was installed. The mechanic who installed the rack is not a corvette specialist, but he has a good reputation and been in business many years. There are very few people who work on corvettes where I live. Maybe the rebuilt rack is overworking that 31 year old power steering pump, or some debris is stuck in the pump. I don't know. Another option for me would be to take it to a GM Dealer and have them install the power steering pump, but they are often much more expensive. I may make a call to them and get an estimate. Thank you for your concern. Appreciate it.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
UPDATE: I had a local GM dealership install a used steering pump from an 1989 vette with 38,000 miles (61,000 km) on it. It was installed in my '89 and it's working fine. Thank you all for your advice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 933
Likes: 165
steering
when I changed out the pump, flushed system. flush didn't get all the dirt out. I changed out the fluid in the reservoir until clean . about a gallons worth.
took about a week.
I'm sure there's a better way
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 628
Likes: 80
From: Canada
Thanks for sharing what happened in your situation, Mike. I gave an update in post #13. My steering pump began to fail after I had a rebuilt rack put in the car. Whether the failure was because the pump was 32 years old, or it was caused by dirty fluid, I don't know, but I found an original used steering pump from an 1989 vette, and had it installed in my '89 and it's working again. Salute.