I'm pulling my hair out over the power steering rebuild job I did. Need help!

[krscholz]

I rebuilt the box, pump, valve and slave cylinder. Now that its all complete the steering is tight as a new car except that the steering is inconsistent and is hard to turn when I come to a stop and try to make a turn. On the highway it seems to be pretty good but I still notice considerable stiffness when I make turns. I think its either the pump or the valve. Any ideas of what the problem could be???

 

[Mac]

Hmmm.... did you replace the hoses?

-Mac

 

[damoroso]

Two things to try. First, raise the front wheels off the ground and with the engine off...turn the steering wheel lock to lock a couple dozen times. Check the fluid after the first couple to make sure it's full. Then put the car back on the ground and with the engine running do it again a few times. If that doesn't work, pull the high pressure hose from the back of the pump, then the fitting that's in the pump and see if the flow control valve is stuck. It should pop out without any help. If it is, use your finger or a magenet to try and get it out. It's got a spring behind it so it should come out easily. Once it's out, check it carefully for burrs, dings or scores. If it has anything that would cause it to stick, that could be your problem, but it's likely that the system has air in it.

 

[krscholz]

Hmmm.... did you replace the hoses?

-Mac

No I didn't but they were/are in fine shape (no leaks)

 

[krscholz]

Two things to try. First, raise the front wheels off the ground and with the engine off...turn the steering wheel lock to lock a couple dozen times. Check the fluid after the first couple to make sure it's full. Then put the car back on the ground and with the engine running do it again a few times. If that doesn't work, pull the high pressure hose from the back of the pump, then the fitting that's in the pump and see if the flow control valve is stuck. It should pop out without any help. If it is, use your finger or a magenet to try and get it out. It's got a spring behind it so it should come out easily. Once it's out, check it carefully for burrs, dings or scores. If it has anything that would cause it to stick, that could be your problem, but it's likely that the system has air in it.

Thanks for your input. I have no doubt that there was air in the system after my rebuild. I took it out for a drive for about 3 hours yesterday thinking that it would purge the system. It didn't. Here lies the problem if it isn't the air. I believe I did a careful rebuild of each component of the PS system but you can't tell for sure of course. If it is a problem with one of the components, then which one is it? I agree with your advice above and will try it before I start replacing the individual components.

 

[Mac]

No I didn't but they were/are in fine shape (no leaks)

Years ago, I had a return line which looked fine (but wasn't) that caused me problems. I replaced both hoses but only from frustration rather than wisdom.

-Mac

 

[krscholz]

Years ago, I had a return line which looked fine (but wasn't) that caused me problems. I replaced both hoses but only from frustration rather than wisdom.

-Mac

Thanks I will check.

 

[SVO]

If you rebuilt the steering box, I'd look there first. Also, is your car a factory p/s car or have you added p/s to a manual steering car?

 

[damoroso]

Thanks for your input. I have no doubt that there was air in the system after my rebuild. I took it out for a drive for about 3 hours yesterday thinking that it would purge the system. It didn't. Here lies the problem if it isn't the air. I believe I did a careful rebuild of each component of the PS system but you can't tell for sure of course. If it is a problem with one of the components, then which one is it? I agree with your advice above and will try it before I start replacing the individual components.

Air can be trapped in several places in the system and normal driving would have a hard time getting it out. Plus, as I described in my last post, it's possible that if it wasn't bled correctly, that the flow control valve is stuck in the pump. I'd start with bleeding and the flow contrl valve....I've been exactly where you are (recently) and ended up thinking I did a poor job on the PS Control Valve rebuild, and bought a new one...I didn't have to...

 

[krscholz]

If you rebuilt the steering box, I'd look there first. Also, is your car a factory p/s car or have you added p/s to a manual steering car?

The car has factory PS. I tried the back and forth of the steering with the wheels off the ground and that helped some. I problably need to do it a few more times. I will try removing the line as was suggested.