Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself?
#1
Melting Slicks
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Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself?
Went out to the garage yesterday and saw a big puddle of PS fluid.
I've pretty much decided to pull everything (it's all probably 25 years old), but I was wondering about your thoughts/experiences about the PS valve & cylinder; should I use new, rebuilt, or try to rebuild them myself?
I've pretty much decided to pull everything (it's all probably 25 years old), but I was wondering about your thoughts/experiences about the PS valve & cylinder; should I use new, rebuilt, or try to rebuild them myself?
#2
Burning Brakes
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
corvette magazine has a good article on steering box rebuilt you can get to it from forum main page will show you what your up against to do it your self :smash:
#3
Melting Slicks
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
I purchased a rebuilt control valve and rebuilt the pump and cylinder myself. I have read to many post about trying to rebuild the control valve at home only to find out it still leaks. For the $50-60 for a rebuilt control valve, get one already done. The pump and cylinder are easy. You are just replacing seals and o-rings. The only thing to really look for on the cylinder is the chrome rod. If it has any damage to it, get a rebuilt one. You can buy the hoses as a kit for the best price. Make sure to balance the control valve while the car is on jacks and don't have your hands in the spokes of the steering wheel when you first start the car. This should be one of those projects that makes you smile when your done.
Regards,
Jim
Regards,
Jim
#4
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Jim73)
You will get a lot of opinions on this one. Definitley change the ram. As for the control valve I am on my second or third rebuilt and it is leaking. I just ordered a NEW one from The Last Detail, $140.00
#5
Always Shiftin'
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
My first recommendation (if you haven't already done this!) is to first determine where your leak is coming from. Jack up the car and spray the components with brake cleaner and wipe it down real good. Crank it up and look for leaks. Many times the leak is at the pump and you spend a lot of money to replace the control valve, hoses and cylinder unnecessarily.
Secondly, if you determine that the leak is at the control valve (like I did), I would recommend buying one of the kits (rebuilt valve and cylinder plus the 4 hoses) from someone. It is cheaper to buy the kit and upgrade everything at once. I bought mine from Ikerd's and haven't had any problems since (8 months so far)!!
Good luck!!
Secondly, if you determine that the leak is at the control valve (like I did), I would recommend buying one of the kits (rebuilt valve and cylinder plus the 4 hoses) from someone. It is cheaper to buy the kit and upgrade everything at once. I bought mine from Ikerd's and haven't had any problems since (8 months so far)!!
Good luck!!
#6
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
Depends how good you are, a couple of months ago I had the same problem and ordered the rebuild kit from Zip which is in the restoration section of this site. and it turned out pretty good. The rebuilt kit is $194.00 with $125.00 core charge, and everything was included. :)
They also have the new kits but the guy at Zips said the rebuilt kits are as good if not better, so I went with the rebuilt. :D
I took it to a shop to have them do it and they wanted 700 or 800 for the parts and I shopped around and found this kit and the shop said they would install it. :yesnod:
They also have the new kits but the guy at Zips said the rebuilt kits are as good if not better, so I went with the rebuilt. :D
I took it to a shop to have them do it and they wanted 700 or 800 for the parts and I shopped around and found this kit and the shop said they would install it. :yesnod:
#7
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Tominator)
I went through three new valves in one year, I finally purchased a rebuilt unit from Vette Brakes and things seem to be better with over a year on this one. Make sure you change your hoses and use the right fluid, you want a clean system to start. The rebuilt unit as well as the new come with balancing instructions, not hard to do. Good Luck
Garson
Garson
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Garson)
....I decided to just let my power steering leak all it wants to. I am always relieved when I check out the puddle in my garage and find out its not engine oil. Regards
#9
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
Thanks for the replies.
I pulled it up on jack stands today and I believe that it's leaking from the control valve. One hose is in really bad shape too. I think I'll get a rebuilt control valve and hose set.
A couple of follow up questions: If I just replace the control valve and hoses, what are the chances I'll cause a leak in the old pump and/or cylinder during the repair? Also, I want to change out ball joints, tie rod ends, and bushings in the not-too-distant future. I was hoping not to have to do that right now, but again, would I be risking screwing up this repair if I pull apart the front end later.
Thanks again, Jerry
I pulled it up on jack stands today and I believe that it's leaking from the control valve. One hose is in really bad shape too. I think I'll get a rebuilt control valve and hose set.
A couple of follow up questions: If I just replace the control valve and hoses, what are the chances I'll cause a leak in the old pump and/or cylinder during the repair? Also, I want to change out ball joints, tie rod ends, and bushings in the not-too-distant future. I was hoping not to have to do that right now, but again, would I be risking screwing up this repair if I pull apart the front end later.
Thanks again, Jerry
#10
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Shutdown1)
I thought about that, but the PS fluid doesn't really go with the trans fluid and the oil :nonod:
Jerry
Jerry
#11
Melting Slicks
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
If your not going to replace/rebuild the powersteering pump or cylinder, just make sure you flush the system with clean powersteering fluid. Kind of like bleeding the brakes. You don't want the old fluid to contiminate the rebuilt control valve with all the old grime/debris in the old fluid.
Regards,
Jim
Regards,
Jim
#12
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
You won't aggravate the pump or cylinder when changing the hoses and valve. I changed some of the o-rings in my pump and found the originals to be in excellant condition. Pumps are fairly stoudt. New hoses are very much suggested. Get ones that match stock for they tuck in there between the pump and valve in a special way so not to rub against the a-arm and also allow steering linkage travel. I rebuilt the control valve. MISTAKE! Bought a new one afterwards. SUCCESS!. I left the cylinder alone but a rebuilt there is very simple. You'd be surprised on how many internal parts the control valve has?! Toughest part of the job was separating the pitman arm from the control valve. Use a pickle fork and a sledge hammer. :smash:
#13
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Dsmith)
I posted the AIM sheets along with some written description on routing the power steering hoses for the small blocks and also for the big blocks. You can download the sheets by going to: http://www.corvettefaq.com. Go to Suspension and Steering and look under; Steering Hose Routing (all engines) and two Steering Hose Routing (Pictures).
There is also a paper on Control Valve Replace and Balance Instructions along with three pictures.
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc sells a rebuilt control valve with a 5 year warranty.
General Motors still sells the Corvette power steering hoses:
3826277 Hose Asm, Inlet 1968-79 small block (high pressure)
7834409 Hose Asm, Inlet 1980-82 small block (high pressure)
3826278 Hose Asm, Outlet 1968-82 all engines (low pressure)
Note, for some reason GM does not sell the big block inlet (high pressure) hose 3878886. It is available from several Corvette suppliers.
I also recommend flushing and refilling with GM power steering fluid (available from any GM dealer). Do not use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
There is also a paper on Control Valve Replace and Balance Instructions along with three pictures.
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc sells a rebuilt control valve with a 5 year warranty.
General Motors still sells the Corvette power steering hoses:
3826277 Hose Asm, Inlet 1968-79 small block (high pressure)
7834409 Hose Asm, Inlet 1980-82 small block (high pressure)
3826278 Hose Asm, Outlet 1968-82 all engines (low pressure)
Note, for some reason GM does not sell the big block inlet (high pressure) hose 3878886. It is available from several Corvette suppliers.
I also recommend flushing and refilling with GM power steering fluid (available from any GM dealer). Do not use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF).
#14
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Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
Again, thanks for the replies.
It's been a couple of days since I cleaned things up and I haven't seen any further sign of a leak :confused: I'm curious, is there a pressure relief valve on the control valve that could have opened and released some fluid?
Part of me hates the idea of replacing good (at least functioning parts), but I've decided to do both the power steering and the suspension at the same time. I'll probably head up to Zip in the next week or two and get the rebuilt PS kit (rebuilt slave & control valve & new hoses) and the front polyurethane suspension kit. I'm a little nervous about the upper & lower A arms, but I think I'll give it a try. Any thoughts on getting new front springs? Do they actually wear down after 25?
Thanks again,
Jerry
It's been a couple of days since I cleaned things up and I haven't seen any further sign of a leak :confused: I'm curious, is there a pressure relief valve on the control valve that could have opened and released some fluid?
Part of me hates the idea of replacing good (at least functioning parts), but I've decided to do both the power steering and the suspension at the same time. I'll probably head up to Zip in the next week or two and get the rebuilt PS kit (rebuilt slave & control valve & new hoses) and the front polyurethane suspension kit. I'm a little nervous about the upper & lower A arms, but I think I'll give it a try. Any thoughts on getting new front springs? Do they actually wear down after 25?
Thanks again,
Jerry
#16
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (jerryp58)
Jerry, I'm in the same boat. My control valve is leaking - the whole system is original. I think I'll try to rebuild the valve and cylinder and replace the hoses. The pump is new (long story :rolleyes: ).
I also need to replace some front suspension bushings. One of my lower A-arm bushings completely ripped :eek: . It's all too easy to say, "While your at it ... " and 3 months later your still at it.
Which of the front suspension bushings will you be replacing? I've heard the upper A-arm bushings don't wear out that often, but it does seem silly not to replace them while your at it. :D
Let me know of your progress. :cheers:
-Rick
I also need to replace some front suspension bushings. One of my lower A-arm bushings completely ripped :eek: . It's all too easy to say, "While your at it ... " and 3 months later your still at it.
Which of the front suspension bushings will you be replacing? I've heard the upper A-arm bushings don't wear out that often, but it does seem silly not to replace them while your at it. :D
Let me know of your progress. :cheers:
-Rick
#17
Le Mans Master
Re: Power Steering Fluid Puddle -- Do I go New, Rebuilt, or Rebuild Myself? (Shutdown1)
FIX IT! Every time you add fluid (assuming you have a small block) if it overflows, the fluid runs onto the lower control arm bushing and turns it to mush. Lower conterol arm bushings are not fun to change.