Morning Sickness
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Morning Sickness
Ugh... I just tried using search, and all the "archived" links came back with no link... helpful, eh?
Here is my question: Internal to the rack and pinion (or PS pump for that matter) what is failing when morning sickness begins?
Is it a seal problem? Is it a problem with the internal diverter valving? Is the pump failing in some way? It's always blamed on the rack...
I read a post recently where Seafoam has a product that would help fix this. Would this be the Seafoam Transmission flush? It would make sense.
The reason for these questions is that morning sickness has attacked my 92 Coupe. I may try the Seafoam and flush it out...
For those of you aware, the BG power flush is nice, but I don't know if the fluid would really get rid of enough goo to do anything.
About 20 years ago, I owned an AMC Pacer... my first car. A real date machine...
However, the rack on it failed, but it's death was easily diagnosed. The bellows on the rack dry rotted and allowed dirt to enter the shaft. This tore up the internal seals causing pressure loss and severe leaking. BTW, these racks were GM sourced - Saganaw...
Any insights would be greatly appreciated!!
Here is my question: Internal to the rack and pinion (or PS pump for that matter) what is failing when morning sickness begins?
Is it a seal problem? Is it a problem with the internal diverter valving? Is the pump failing in some way? It's always blamed on the rack...
I read a post recently where Seafoam has a product that would help fix this. Would this be the Seafoam Transmission flush? It would make sense.
The reason for these questions is that morning sickness has attacked my 92 Coupe. I may try the Seafoam and flush it out...
For those of you aware, the BG power flush is nice, but I don't know if the fluid would really get rid of enough goo to do anything.
About 20 years ago, I owned an AMC Pacer... my first car. A real date machine...
However, the rack on it failed, but it's death was easily diagnosed. The bellows on the rack dry rotted and allowed dirt to enter the shaft. This tore up the internal seals causing pressure loss and severe leaking. BTW, these racks were GM sourced - Saganaw... Any insights would be greatly appreciated!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 15
From: The light that never warms.
St. Jude Donor '12
It's the internal seals. Go get a rebuilt rack at the parts store and change it out. It's some work, but no big deal.
And flush everything while you are at it.
With good PS fluid.
And flush everything while you are at it.
With good PS fluid.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,143
Likes: 1,729
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
yes it is the seals themselves that are deteriorating, nothing to do with the pump at all, though i suspect that the crap thats in the system will eventually kill a pump
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I thought when they said the rack's gone, it meant the seals and the pump, too. Is that not so? Don't know about C4 pumps, but know that quite a few other cars have weak pumps which frequently go out. Info would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
A good flush and it should be good to go for a long time,unless its really bad.I had the morning sickness and flushed the rack and pump,added new fluid and it was good for 5 more years until I replaced the rack and pump one day.The pump was still good but I figured I might as well change that while I was at it.Only on the coldest days did I notice it being a little tight until it warmed up.
If the flush and fill doesnt work,then its def. time for a new rack.
If the flush and fill doesnt work,then its def. time for a new rack.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Gordon Killebrew says to use a certian product to soften the seals. He says it usually works. I have a can out in the pole barn but it is so friggin cold out there that I am just too dang warm here in the house to go look.
I can't remember the name of the product right now. I will look tomorrow when it gets above 20 degrees.
I can't remember the name of the product right now. I will look tomorrow when it gets above 20 degrees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
Gordon Killebrew says to use a certian product to soften the seals. He says it usually works. I have a can out in the pole barn but it is so friggin cold out there that I am just too dang warm here in the house to go look.
I can't remember the name of the product right now. I will look tomorrow when it gets above 20 degrees.
I can't remember the name of the product right now. I will look tomorrow when it gets above 20 degrees.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
I have already done a rack swap... so the act doesn't scare me, I was just saving the $$$ during the holidays!
I did the swap in McShaggers 92 a few months back. It's a one day job, and having done it, could do it quicker. It's not bad, really, just need some crows feet and a tie rod removal tool.
So it is seal failure... interesting. I am gonna try a flush... I can't see the harm. I nothing else, the pump will be happier for it.
I did the swap in McShaggers 92 a few months back. It's a one day job, and having done it, could do it quicker. It's not bad, really, just need some crows feet and a tie rod removal tool.
So it is seal failure... interesting. I am gonna try a flush... I can't see the harm. I nothing else, the pump will be happier for it.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Oakland CA
Here's my experience. The steering would feel unboosted first start of the day. After one three point turn, it felt fine. I drained the fluid out of the reservoir and replaced it with the Lucas additive and the problem was gone. After about six months I flushed the system with regular p.s. fluid and refilled it without the Lucas. Now the first few turns of the wheel are somewhat stiff but not bad. I think it is worn bushings in the rack that just need a good coat of oil on the before they smooth out. I bet the Lucas additive stays on the bushings better and thats why it seems to solve the problem.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Andy, the product is made by Lucas and is intended to stop leaks and soften the seals on power steering racks. The label says it is guaranteed or your money back. Gordon recommends adding some even if you are not having any problems just as a preventitive measure. I went out to the pole barn anyway for ya even though it is only up to 18 degrees. 
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
I used the Lucas stuff, its a lot thicker then ps fluid.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
Andy, the product is made by Lucas and is intended to stop leaks and soften the seals on power steering racks. The label says it is guaranteed or your money back. Gordon recommends adding some even if you are not having any problems just as a preventitive measure. I went out to the pole barn anyway for ya even though it is only up to 18 degrees.
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!
I will check out the Lucas stuff!!!!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by jd_v3tt3
I used the Lucas stuff, its a lot thicker then ps fluid.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by jd_v3tt3
I used the Lucas stuff, its a lot thicker then ps fluid.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
If you live in a cold climate, keep the lucas in the house overnight to make it flow out of the bottle easier.
With that in mind, the added viscosity actually made my ps pump starve in 20* weather for a few seconds, well after I put the lucas in(months) Just something to think about.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 377
Likes: 10
From: Chicago IL
I agree with the concern about the added viscosity. I put lucas fluid in my other gm vehicle with morning sickness, and now with the temps in the single digits, the pump/belt squeal like a pig for a good 15-20 seconds. I removed the power steering fluid and replaced with the regular stuff and what a difference. the lucas produce may help some problems but may also create new ones when it gets super cold.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 65
From: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Originally Posted by corvetteronw
Andy, the product is made by Lucas and is intended to stop leaks and soften the seals on power steering racks. The label says it is guaranteed or your money back. Gordon recommends adding some even if you are not having any problems just as a preventitive measure. I went out to the pole barn anyway for ya even though it is only up to 18 degrees.
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!
Case - that is a pic I got from a Google search for "blizzard". I have a machine in my garage that is called a snow blower. Yesterday I blew 8" of snow off my cul-de-sac. It is a private street so the city snow plows don't touch it. All of the home owners on my street own snowblowers and we all pitch in and clear the snow after a storm. I ended up covered in about 1/4" of frozen white stuff as it blows back all over you when the wind hits the snow coming out of the chute. You ain't missing a thing!