Power Steering C4

[lwhssh]

My 1990 steers hard. At slow or idle speed it takes 2 hands to turn and makes noice. The noice is not a belt slipping. Is that the symtoms of a failed power steering pump? I was going to replace it but I'd hate to go to the trouble only to find that it wasn't bad. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[jmccloud]

Hard to steer

I've had 2 GM cars (neither a Corvette) that became difficult to steer but only when cold. Both needed a new steering rack (not the pump). It was about a $250 hit. Bad pumps will usually make a lot of noise. Is the fluid level OK?

 

[Jeroenvgfn]

My system is leaking.

every few weeks I hear the pump start singing
then I know its time to fill the reservoir again.

haven't had the time to locate the leak so I could fix it.

maybe this winter ??

 

[MBDiagMan]

lw,

Have you checked the fluid?

Good luck,

 

[tigmaned]

i would try changing the fuild frist, you never know it could solve some things for a little while. my 86 looked like it was never changed when i got it, the fuild looked gray. well i got some sea-foam and flushed the whole system and put in new snythic power steeerinf fuild with some lucas power steering stuff and its been great ever since. cost only about $20 with all the fuilds.

 

[gmjunkie]

i would try changing the fuild frist, you never know it could solve some things for a little while. my 86 looked like it was never changed when i got it, the fuild looked gray. well i got some sea-foam and flushed the whole system and put in new snythic power steeerinf fuild with some lucas power steering stuff and its been great ever since. cost only about $20 with all the fuilds.

Lucas Power Steering Cond. is THE BEST!! It will Fix a Sluggish Rack and a Hydro boost brake unit in 50 mi or less!! Leak's TOO!! unless it's a hose!! junk!!

 

[Jeroenvgfn]

Lucas Power Steering Cond. is THE BEST!! It will Fix a Sluggish Rack and a Hydro boost brake unit in 50 mi or less!! Leak's TOO!! unless it's a hose!! junk!!

sounds good,

anyone knows if this is a hazardous item for airmail ???

otherwise I will order a few bottles.

 

[lwhssh]

steering

I've had 2 GM cars (neither a Corvette) that became difficult to steer but only when cold. Both needed a new steering rack (not the pump). It was about a $250 hit. Bad pumps will usually make a lot of noise. Is the fluid level OK?

Fluid is good, no leaks. I guess I'll try the Lucus additive first, after I flush the fluid. It only has 55,000 miles, and it's a 1990. Everything I read says that usually the early c4's had a problem with the rack. I think I could change the pump myself. It appears you have to dig alot deeper to change the rack. Looks like a real pain. Did you do the rack or did you have it done?

 

[gmjunkie]

Fluid is good, no leaks. I guess I'll try the Lucus additive first, after I flush the fluid. It only has 55,000 miles, and it's a 1990. Everything I read says that usually the early c4's had a problem with the rack. I think I could change the pump myself. It appears you have to dig alot deeper to change the rack. Looks like a real pain. Did you do the rack or did you have it done?

Change the Fluid add Lucus You'll Be Surprized!! junk!!

 

[MBDiagMan]

I doubt that changing the fluid or an additive will cure the problems you describe, but a proper flushing of the system could help and if it doesn't, you will at least have a clean system when you install your new rack.

What I call the ASE Test method of flushing is the easiest, safest and BEST way to flush any power steering system. I call it by this term because, of all things, this is the method asked about on the ASE Suspension and Steering section test. Here's what you do:

Put a drain pan under the car and remove the return line from the power steering pump and temporarily plug the hole left in the pump. Drop the reservoir line down in the drain pan, or if necessary slip a hose over it and drop it into the drain pan.

Get 4 quarts of power steering fluid, DON'T GET THE BRIGHT IDEA TO FLUSH IT WITH SOLVENT, IT WILL RUIN THE PUMP.

Remove the reservoir cap and get your funnel in place or whatever is necessary for filling the pump. Have an assistant start the engine and begin turning the steering wheel back and forth while you pour in fluid. After you have poured in two quarts of fluid and all of the fluid has emptied out of the system, meaning nothing else is coming out of the hose into the pan, IMMEDIATELY shut off the engine.

Put everything back together and fill the reservoir. Have your assistant start the engine again and keep filling the reservoir with fluid while the assistant turns the wheel lock to lock. Turning the steering wheel bleeds the system as well as makes room for all the fluid.

Once fluid is filled and steering is working quietly you are done. Replace the reservoir cap.


Now that the proper method is described I will tell you what someone will suggest because I've seen it a dozen times on another forum. Someone will suggest using a turkey baster to draw fluid out of the reservoir and then refill with fresh fluid. This is about as useless as anything I can imagine. It will do nothing. You may as well dip a gallon of water out of your commode and pour in a fresh gallon without flushing the commode.

Good luck with it,

 

[gmjunkie]

I doubt that changing the fluid or an additive will cure the problems you describe, but a proper flushing of the system could help and if it doesn't, you will at least have a clean system when you install your new rack.

What I call the ASE Test method of flushing is the easiest, safest and BEST way to flush any power steering system. I call it by this term because, of all things, this is the method asked about on the ASE Suspension and Steering section test. Here's what you do:

Put a drain pan under the car and remove the return line from the power steering pump and temporarily plug the hole left in the pump. Drop the reservoir line down in the drain pan, or if necessary slip a hose over it and drop it into the drain pan.

Get 4 quarts of power steering fluid, DON'T GET THE BRIGHT IDEA TO FLUSH IT WITH SOLVENT, IT WILL RUIN THE PUMP.

Remove the reservoir cap and get your funnel in place or whatever is necessary for filling the pump. Have an assistant start the engine and begin turning the steering wheel back and forth while you pour in fluid. After you have poured in two quarts of fluid and all of the fluid has emptied out of the system, meaning nothing else is coming out of the hose into the pan, IMMEDIATELY shut off the engine.

Put everything back together and fill the reservoir. Have your assistant start the engine again and keep filling the reservoir with fluid while the assistant turns the wheel lock to lock. Turning the steering wheel bleeds the system as well as makes room for all the fluid.

Once fluid is filled and steering is working quietly you are done. Replace the reservoir cap.


Now that the proper method is described I will tell you what someone will suggest because I've seen it a dozen times on another forum. Someone will suggest using a turkey baster to draw fluid out of the reservoir and then refill with fresh fluid. This is about as useless as anything I can imagine. It will do nothing. You may as well dip a gallon of water out of your commode and pour in a fresh gallon without flushing the commode.

Good luck with it,

Your 100% Right on how to Flush Syst. Sad Thing is, YOUR 100% Right on the Turkey Baster Too!!!! junk!!

 

[lwhssh]

ps flushing

I doubt that changing the fluid or an additive will cure the problems you describe, but a proper flushing of the system could help and if it doesn't, you will at least have a clean system when you install your new rack.

What I call the ASE Test method of flushing is the easiest, safest and BEST way to flush any power steering system. I call it by this term because, of all things, this is the method asked about on the ASE Suspension and Steering section test. Here's what you do:

Put a drain pan under the car and remove the return line from the power steering pump and temporarily plug the hole left in the pump. Drop the reservoir line down in the drain pan, or if necessary slip a hose over it and drop it into the drain pan.

Get 4 quarts of power steering fluid, DON'T GET THE BRIGHT IDEA TO FLUSH IT WITH SOLVENT, IT WILL RUIN THE PUMP.

Remove the reservoir cap and get your funnel in place or whatever is necessary for filling the pump. Have an assistant start the engine and begin turning the steering wheel back and forth while you pour in fluid. After you have poured in two quarts of fluid and all of the fluid has emptied out of the system, meaning nothing else is coming out of the hose into the pan, IMMEDIATELY shut off the engine.

Put everything back together and fill the reservoir. Have your assistant start the engine again and keep filling the reservoir with fluid while the assistant turns the wheel lock to lock. Turning the steering wheel bleeds the system as well as makes room for all the fluid.

Once fluid is filled and steering is working quietly you are done. Replace the reservoir cap.


Now that the proper method is described I will tell you what someone will suggest because I've seen it a dozen times on another forum. Someone will suggest using a turkey baster to draw fluid out of the reservoir and then refill with fresh fluid. This is about as useless as anything I can imagine. It will do nothing. You may as well dip a gallon of water out of your commode and pour in a fresh gallon without flushing the commode.

Good luck with it,

Great explanation, I'll do it this weekend
Can you help me a little more?
Can you help me identify the return line?
The reservoir line would be the top one, right?

 

[gmjunkie]

Great explanation, I'll do it this weekend
Can you help me a little more?
Can you help me identify the return line?
The reservoir line would be the top one, right?

Yeah, it's the one with a hose clamp not a fitting!! junk!!

 

[Hrtbeat1]

Change the Fluid add Lucus You'll Be Surprized!! junk!!

Worked for my PU. Even stopped a leak in the rack.

 

[Murf]

Lucas is great. Cured my "morning sickness" right away. Didn't flush or drain system. Use a turkey baster to drain a comparable amount of fluid from the reservoir, add the Lucas and drive it a while. Just like new.

Murf

 

[tigmaned]

i didn't want to flush mine, but i had not choice. the last owner must have never changed it in its 20 years life. it had black crap in the bottle?? so i figured what do i have to lose. first i took the bottle off and cleaned the inside, drained all the old fuild, added new fuild and sea-foam, ran it like the sea-foam said, drained it out, ran more new fuild threw system with hose off. then put new snytheic power steering fuild in and lucas. more more black gray fuild in system, no more moaning either. so $20 bucks may buy me another year?

 

[lwhssh]

i didn't want to flush mine, but i had not choice. the last owner must have never changed it in its 20 years life. it had black crap in the bottle?? so i figured what do i have to lose. first i took the bottle off and cleaned the inside, drained all the old fuild, added new fuild and sea-foam, ran it like the sea-foam said, drained it out, ran more new fuild threw system with hose off. then put new snytheic power steering fuild in and lucas. more more black gray fuild in system, no more moaning either. so $20 bucks may buy me another year?

Which hose am I taking off? do I get to it from under the car or on top?

 

[MBDiagMan]

Take the hose off of the reservoir leaving the other end connected to the rack. Once disconnected from the reservoir on the pump, lower the hose into the drain pan or connect another hose to it putting that hose in the drain pan. Beware that if the hose flops out of the drain pan it will make a serious mess.

Good luck,

 

[nyernga]

I'm not sure if your car has a power steering cooler but the steering on my vette was hard as well when I first bought it. Turned out the previous owner must have driven over a parking curb and put a kink in the cooler line. I think the Z51 suspensions came with a cooler.

Len

 

[MBDiagMan]

I'm not sure if your car has a power steering cooler but the steering on my vette was hard as well when I first bought it. Turned out the previous owner must have driven over a parking curb and put a kink in the cooler line. I think the Z51 suspensions came with a cooler.

Len

Very good point. It's easy to overlook the possibility of a damaged line if there are no leaks, and the symptoms are only functional.

Have a great day,