[flamed55]

My on going steering problems. I've tried all the things suggested to me with some mixed results. To bring things up to date, this is the chain of events that when on since I first and last contacted Jalapeno. I put in an upgraded rebuilt saginaw pump twice, rebuilt the control valve twice, went through the bleeding process twice, and only had power assist for three or four turns of the wheel. Only thing that wasn't changed was the ram cylinder and the hoses from the control valve to the cylinder. Checked the hoses for any obstruction and found none, so I contineud to drive it without any obvious power assist. Now here comes the kicker. While I was leaving a car show I attended, I made a right turn onto a side street, and started to get power assist. It started to work most of the time for a few uses, but has gone back to hard steering for the last week or so. Today I put the car up on jack stands, and found that when turning a full turn to the left then turning back to the right at about 2/3rds turn the tires shake or vibrate. The other thing it does when turned to full stops either way and I let go of the wheel, it will turn back to almost straight. I can also feel some resistance while turning the wheel either way. How much of this is normal? The only thing I've replaced lately is the idler arm bushing. Sorry about this being so long and drawn out, but it's the best I could do to make my explanation and questions as clear as possible. I hope I've covered it well enough. Thanks for any input you all can give me. You're really the best source for answering these questions.
Jim

 

[Jalapeno]

Wow. This a is such a long list of symptoms it's hard to figure out what's happening. I read one sentence and think I know what the problem is, then read the next sentence and think it's something else. Are you sure you're not making this up? LOL

Can you post a link to your earlier thread? Might help me if I could get a history. Pics showing hose connections would really help too.

 

[levi 1983]

have you tried adjusting the control valve . i know there are a few differant ones being used . but i adjusted mine and its working well beyond my expectations .. at one point i had no power assist and the pump and fluid got very hot ,, then i had assist in one direction .. made adjustments .. touch wood all is good ,, good luck

 

[flamed55]

Power steering "gremlins"

Jalapeno, and Levi, My original posting was on page 20, then 6 then 4 then1. At one point early on I thought the problem was solved, but it obviously wasn't. So I'm back to square one. I really don't know how to upload pictures here, so I'll have to work on that. I know the hoses are on right, as per the manual and your instructions. Sorry for the last drawn out posting. thanks
again.
I'm actually trying to sell this car and don't want to continue putting money into it unless I end up keeping it.

 

[flamed55]

power steering gremlins

Does anyone think that maybe the drag link might be part of my problem, or should I just replace the control valve.

 

[Rick_L]

I would buy a power steering control valve from Jalapeno if you want to take a shot in the dark. Your symptoms seem to indicate a sticking valve. You could also be having problems with the pressure relief valve in the pump but I think that is less likely.

Seems like fixing this will make your car much easier to sell.

 

[flamed55]

power steering gremlins

Thanks for the input Rick. I've changed the pump twice, so I doubt that would be the problem. Don't have the money for the control valve now, but as soon as I get it changed I'll give a heads up as to whether it's working or not.

 

[Jalapeno]

Jalapeno, and Levi, My original posting was on page 20, then 6 then 4 then1.

Sorry, I cannot find it that way.

Go to your earlier post, copy the URL then come back here and paste the URL in a reply to this thread.

 

[flamed55]

power steering gremlins

Jalapeno, I know this going to make me seem like a dunce, but since i'm not a computer wizzard, I dont know all the terms used. When you say url exactly what is that.

 

[flamed55]

Power steering "gremlins"

Jalapeno, one of the problems I posted about resistance when I turned the wheel full left or right, I figured out myself. Seems when I changed the bushings in the idler arm I drew the nut's down to tight. Backed them off about one turn. Problem solved. I also drained all the fluid and did the process of bleeding and refilling, then took it out for some turning in both directions, and seemed to work ok. Still a little hard to turn when sitting still on cement floor. If the steering get's difficult again I'll probably change the control valve. Again thanks for any advice you can give me.
Jim

 

[Jalapeno]

Glad you've solved the full turn problem. The idler/link bushings do play a role in steering resistance. For those who want to know the correct procedure on tightening the idler slotted nuts, here it is:

Install the idler tanged washers and slotted nuts finger tight only. Position wheels straight ahead, on the ground (full weight of the car, including the engine). Torque both idler slotted nuts to 70 ft/lbs and insert cotter pins.

BTW, the URL (don't ask me what URL stands for!) is the address of the web page you are on, every page has a different URL. Every URL starts with " http:// " and then there's a lot of other stuff after it. If you look at your screen at the top of the page you are on, you'll find that address somewhere. Then use your mouse to highlight it (hold the left button and roll over the area you want to highlight) then click the right button on the mouse, choose "copy", you are now ready to paste that address anywhere you want, in this case, in a reply on TriFive you would just position the cursor in the reply window then right click again and choose "paste", the thing you copied will be pasted in the reply window.

 

[D.S.]

Sorry but I had to do it... LOL

URL = Uniform Resource Locator

 

[flamed55]

power steering gremlins

Jalapeno,Thanks for the explanation on the URL. Not trying to put you off, but I'm going to pass on trying to do that URL thing. The steering is working better now, but if it continues to give me problems I'll get back to you about a new control valve, as soon as the money becomes available. Thanks again for the input from all. This is for sure the best trifive information online site. By the way, how much is a new control valve? I'm thinking about disassembling the valve and rechecking my original assembly procedure.

 

[Jalapeno]

No worries. The cut and paste thing with the URL is universal, when you want to post a link to some other page on the web just use that method.

Good luck, let me know if I can help with the valve.

 

[flamed55]

Power steering gremlins

Thanks again