Steering Issues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 6
From: SW Ontario
Steering Issues
Hello,
Picked up my first vette and '84 this past weekend. I noticed that when turning a corner it almost feels like I don't have power steering. I don't hear any noises coming from the car. The car does have 18" later style Corvette rims on it. I wonder if that might be part of the issue? I do want to go back to the original 16" snow blade rims.
Thanks.
Picked up my first vette and '84 this past weekend. I noticed that when turning a corner it almost feels like I don't have power steering. I don't hear any noises coming from the car. The car does have 18" later style Corvette rims on it. I wonder if that might be part of the issue? I do want to go back to the original 16" snow blade rims.
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
Common issue in these early corvettes, take a look at your power steering fluid.
I bet it sparkles/has metal in it.
I recently had my rack and pinion rebuilt by turnone (also an 84), they have to bore the rack out and sleeve it.
I paid about $500(+/-) for the service + return shipping.
Shipping there ran me about $75, however I made my own box...
Turnone is the place to go, they know their stuff...
I would recommend replacing or having them rebuild your power steering pump while your at it.
My turnaround from them was under 1 month.
Also symptom for the rack and pinion issue is lack of power steering when cold, when it warms up it's normal.
It gets worse and later the steering will start to stick
Powersteering pump failure would be lack of power at all times... but if you have metal in the fluid...
I bet it sparkles/has metal in it.
I recently had my rack and pinion rebuilt by turnone (also an 84), they have to bore the rack out and sleeve it.
I paid about $500(+/-) for the service + return shipping.
Shipping there ran me about $75, however I made my own box...
Turnone is the place to go, they know their stuff...
I would recommend replacing or having them rebuild your power steering pump while your at it.
My turnaround from them was under 1 month.
Also symptom for the rack and pinion issue is lack of power steering when cold, when it warms up it's normal.
It gets worse and later the steering will start to stick
Powersteering pump failure would be lack of power at all times... but if you have metal in the fluid...
Last edited by Gibbles; Mar 7, 2016 at 10:56 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 6
From: SW Ontario
Went home and checked the fluid. It was full with puke green fluid. Heard that's sync ps fluid.
The steering did get a little better as it warmed up. It's worse when turning left. As well, it's only stiff when moving the wheel an inch and then it's normal.
I may look at flushing the system. It makes no noise and the belt is fairly new. The pump looks to be working and spinning just fine.
The steering did get a little better as it warmed up. It's worse when turning left. As well, it's only stiff when moving the wheel an inch and then it's normal.
I may look at flushing the system. It makes no noise and the belt is fairly new. The pump looks to be working and spinning just fine.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
put the fluid on a white rag or paper towel to judge it's content.
Most of the early racks would start dying right around 100k miles.
I ran my rack until it became unsafe, then I sent it in for a rebuild.
also keep in mind the rack is aluminum, you cannot get the metal shavings to stick to a magnet, and it was a grey color for me.
"puke" color sounds like it's thick enough to block light, that's also how my fluid looked before the first flush.
I'll also mention that I bought my 84 in January with a dying rack right at about 100k, I ran it all summer!
Near the end the steering started to get very loose, and when it started to stick when turning left with the 2.0 ratio steering my car came with... I had to keep two hands on the wheel...
my 2.0 ratio steering was also a major factor in my reasoning to have it rebuilt by the pro's, decided it was worth paying a premium to keep...
I also could not find much on what to expect with turnone, including the price.
Start saving up now, it's not a question of if, it's when.
Most of the early racks would start dying right around 100k miles.
I ran my rack until it became unsafe, then I sent it in for a rebuild.
also keep in mind the rack is aluminum, you cannot get the metal shavings to stick to a magnet, and it was a grey color for me.
"puke" color sounds like it's thick enough to block light, that's also how my fluid looked before the first flush.
I'll also mention that I bought my 84 in January with a dying rack right at about 100k, I ran it all summer!
Near the end the steering started to get very loose, and when it started to stick when turning left with the 2.0 ratio steering my car came with... I had to keep two hands on the wheel...
my 2.0 ratio steering was also a major factor in my reasoning to have it rebuilt by the pro's, decided it was worth paying a premium to keep...
I also could not find much on what to expect with turnone, including the price.
Start saving up now, it's not a question of if, it's when.
Last edited by Gibbles; Mar 8, 2016 at 07:50 AM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 171
Likes: 6
From: SW Ontario
Yes, it is so it's about 60-70 miles I believe. Not a long life for that R n P. I'll check the fluid tonight again on a rag.
What's a fluid cooler?
I hear the green power steering fluid runs cooler....Also my system is making zero noise. Thanks for the suggestions.
What's a fluid cooler?
I hear the green power steering fluid runs cooler....Also my system is making zero noise. Thanks for the suggestions.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
Power steering fluid cooler, later models had it included.
After i had my rack rebuilt i ran aluminium fluid lines to the front of the car and installed a cooler, however oem had a much simpler routing method.
After i had my rack rebuilt i ran aluminium fluid lines to the front of the car and installed a cooler, however oem had a much simpler routing method.
Oil Producer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,388
Likes: 2,749
but tbh i prefer my steering to my brothers 85 which is finger light steering.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
Even after replacing my rack and pump my steering is not like my truck.
I do have the fast ratio 2.0 steering that came with the z51 package.
With out power steering my steering is pretty much impossible.
Like damage to the column ect.
My pump also died silently shortly after the swap.
I do have the fast ratio 2.0 steering that came with the z51 package.
With out power steering my steering is pretty much impossible.
Like damage to the column ect.
My pump also died silently shortly after the swap.