Steering problems...
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From: Mountain View California
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Steering problems...
Hi ya'll!
I got a question about steering. About a month or so ago, once and a while after starting cold, my steering gets extremely difficult. After it warms up a bit, all is normal.
About 7~8 months ago, I flushed the steering system and put in new fluid. Today, I checked and the reservoir is full. I took it to the local Vette mechanic and he says that it's my rack. The rack is going out due to poor GM design or for a better way of putting it. "planned Obsolescence." something to do with aluminum rod and teflon bushings.. He wants to replace it with aftermarket, saying it's much more durable.
Is he right?? My 95 has 32k miles on it..
Thanks! :steering: :steering: :cheers:
I got a question about steering. About a month or so ago, once and a while after starting cold, my steering gets extremely difficult. After it warms up a bit, all is normal.
About 7~8 months ago, I flushed the steering system and put in new fluid. Today, I checked and the reservoir is full. I took it to the local Vette mechanic and he says that it's my rack. The rack is going out due to poor GM design or for a better way of putting it. "planned Obsolescence." something to do with aluminum rod and teflon bushings.. He wants to replace it with aftermarket, saying it's much more durable.
Is he right?? My 95 has 32k miles on it..
Thanks! :steering: :steering: :cheers:
Thread Starter
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From: Mountain View California
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Re: Steering problems... (TimC)
Does it also make a "click-click" noise when turning it?
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Re: Steering problems... (Mystic '95)
Does it also make a "click-click" noise when turning it?
nope! It just gets hard to steer.. As if trying to steer without engine running.. No noise..
nope! It just gets hard to steer.. As if trying to steer without engine running.. No noise..
Drain all the old fluid out again (turkey baster tool) and refill with synthetic ATF fluid. I use Amzoil.
Mine started to stick like yours about three years ago and i did this. Has been fine since.
The synthetic fluid resists temp changes better than standard fluid ( IMHO) It worked for me.
But, it may be too late. These racks do develop what you will see referred to as "morning sickness"
:steering: [ I love that Lil Guy! ]
Thread Starter
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From: Mountain View California
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Re: Steering problems... (jackdaroofer)
More than likely your mechanic is telling the truth...but it may not be too late for one last try at a "cheap" fix.
Drain all the old fluid out again (turkey baster tool) and refill with synthetic ATF fluid. I use Amzoil.
Drain all the old fluid out again (turkey baster tool) and refill with synthetic ATF fluid. I use Amzoil.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Glen Allen, VA
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Re: Steering problems... (Mystic '95)
Reason I asked is there is a GM service bulletin for clicking steering columns (see below). I'd try to change the fluids again as Jack said...then take it to the mechanic. Good luck.
Service Bulletin Number: 56-32-02A
Bulletin Sequence Number: 82
Date of Bulletin: 9604
NHTSA Item Number: SB047950
Make: CHEVROLET
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1995
Component: STEERING:COLUMN
Summary: INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING.
Bulletin Sequence Number: 82
Date of Bulletin: 9604
NHTSA Item Number: SB047950
Make: CHEVROLET
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1995
Component: STEERING:COLUMN
Summary: INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Re: Steering problems... (Mystic '95)
Steering rack problems are common with the early C-4's.
Alumimun rack, steel steering rods. The steel rods wore out the alumimun rack, hence the black power steering fluid.
Later cars got the "fix" ie. the nylon bushings.
The bushings maybe worn on your car although it seems a mite early.
Replacement of the rack can be expensive.
An after market rack being better than OEM? How can that be? The repair for the rack is adding the bushing in the case of the early rack. Or in the case of the later rack its just a straight forward rebuild. That is seals and bushings.
On my early C-4 I chose to ignore the problem. My later C-4 there is no problem at 100k.
Alumimun rack, steel steering rods. The steel rods wore out the alumimun rack, hence the black power steering fluid.
Later cars got the "fix" ie. the nylon bushings.
The bushings maybe worn on your car although it seems a mite early.
Replacement of the rack can be expensive.
An after market rack being better than OEM? How can that be? The repair for the rack is adding the bushing in the case of the early rack. Or in the case of the later rack its just a straight forward rebuild. That is seals and bushings.
On my early C-4 I chose to ignore the problem. My later C-4 there is no problem at 100k.
Thread Starter
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From: Mountain View California
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Re: Steering problems... (TimC)
Reason I asked is there is a GM service bulletin for clicking steering columns (see below). I'd try to change the fluids again as Jack said...then take it to the mechanic. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
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From: Mountain View California
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Re: Steering problems... (redwing76)
An after market rack being better than OEM? How can that be? The repair for the rack is adding the bushing in the case of the early rack. Or in the case of the later rack its just a straight forward rebuild. That is seals and bushings.
On my early C-4 I chose to ignore the problem. My later C-4 there is no problem at 100k.
On my early C-4 I chose to ignore the problem. My later C-4 there is no problem at 100k.
I changed the fluid a few months ago, I'll do it again to see if it helps.. So far, last couple days, I haven't had the problem. My vette sits a lot though but last few days I've been using it as my daily driver since my son's car is up on jacks and he has my daily..Maybe just driving it more helps the problem.. :cheers:
