change the power steering fluid tips...

[cesully]

Hello guys,

Any advice to how to change the pwr steering fluid on my '78. I think it needs to be done- it's acting a little wierd lately. What and where is the best way to drain it ? Does it have some sort of drain plug?

Thanks for you support...

Sully

 

[Bob Chadwick]

No drain plug Sully. Mine drained all over me when I removed the hoses.

 

[JonM]

Sneak your wife’s turkey baster out of the kitchen...suck out all the fluid you can out of the reservoir...refill fluid...clean baster return before wife finds out...Drive Corvette for a few days...repeat above until fluid is clean

 

[cesully]

sounds like some nice carmelized turkey for Christmas... mmmmmmm...

thanks guys.

Sully

 

[81 Corvette]

i just let mine drip out, i get a fluid change every couple of months

 

[photovette]

What's the odd thing it's doing? I doubt you'll feel any difference from a fluid change if something is wrong.

 

[cesully]

Oh yeah, Photovette, It's hard to discribe however- sometimes it's gets chuncky when turn lf or rt, it feels like it wont turn at all then goes away, this happens momentarily, its worse when I first start the car after it's been sitting a while. No problems when I'm just doing smooth turns- just when I have to make abrupt and more aggressive turns its just seems to loose the power.

I don't know how old the fluid is so I want to change it anyway... it could also be the control valve but I'm not sure....

thanks

Sully

 

[jdp6000]

Sounds like your belt is slipping....how is it???

I don't think its the control valve. Mine went once, car wanted to always turn left....

Jim

 

[photovette]

If it sticks worse when it's cold and/or just once after you start the car then it's the steering lash adjustment.

If it does it often while driving, then it's tie end rods and idler arm replacement time.

Promise. I had this problem too.

Try greasing the idler arm and tie end rods--if it helps at all, then for sure change'em.

 

[cesully]

very good...thanks. It seems like it does it more when its cold.

Sully

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Sounds like you may have some metal shavings wearing from the cylinder thats clogging in the control valve. If you disconnect the pressure lines to the cylinder and run the pump while turning the steering wheel it will drain the reservoir, then push the cylinder lock to lock to purge all the fluid out of the cylinder. That should get all the crap out of the system. Careful, it will spew! If you have metal flakes in the fluid, it may last a while before you need a new cylinder.

 

[Big Tex]

Guys - my '82 has always had a "hard" steer since I got it last year. Almost like it doesn't have power steering. I suspect a bad pump but I was also told to try a can of Lucas PS fluid first. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Big Tex

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Hey Big Tex,

I remember when you got the '82 last year. It's a beautiful color. It could be the pump or the steering control valve or possibly the o-rings in the steering assist cylinder that's the problem. I would say that any P.S. fluid would work in your application. I use Pennzoil in mine, and it works fine.
You can find out if your pump is working by hooking up a pressure guage to the output line that comes off the pump, and goes to the power steering control valve. It will require a little time getting the proper fittings to adapt to the guage.

 

[JohnZ]

Guys - my '82 has always had a "hard" steer since I got it last year. Almost like it doesn't have power steering. I suspect a bad pump but I was also told to try a can of Lucas PS fluid first. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Big Tex

If someone has greased the zerk fitting on the control valve with the same kind of gun used for ball joints and tie rod ends, that can fill the centering spring cavities on both sides of the control valve ball stud; that prevents the springs from compressing (which prevents the spool valve from moving), and you get no "boost" from the power cylinder. NEVER grease that fitting - it can also damage the five internal seals on the spool valve, and most rebuilt valves come with a card or tag that says greasing the fitting will void the warranty; many come now with a plug in the hole for the zerk fitting, as nobody reads the instructions any more.