steering box issue
New User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4
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My PS pump and steering gear were not making strange noises. My problem was that even though the pump was turning, it was not pumping at high pressure. It had no power to move the steering gear.
I've had PS pumps go bad on other vehicles, but the pump always froze up or leaked. This time it looked good: turned correctly and had no leaks. It caused me to believe the problem was the steering gear. I went to the trouble and expense of installing a rebuilt steering gear, but the actual problem was the pump. Now, it's running great.
I've had PS pumps go bad on other vehicles, but the pump always froze up or leaked. This time it looked good: turned correctly and had no leaks. It caused me to believe the problem was the steering gear. I went to the trouble and expense of installing a rebuilt steering gear, but the actual problem was the pump. Now, it's running great.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 9
From: Batavia, Ohio
i bled it today,still hasn't gone away-it only happens when you drive it for along time the steering will get tight midway-i am running longtube headers that are close to the box, wonder if the heat is getting to it?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 279
Likes: 8
I dont know how much the sector shaft adjustment would be affected by heat, so to diagnose if its over tight, as you are driving, turn the wheel just barely off center and see if it stays, or returns to center, do this both right and left, (this is hard to do if you have a front end pull). If you want to loosen it, the adjuster bolt raises and lowers the sector shaft, the more it is screwed in the tighter it will be, but only when the steering shaft is centered, do this, turn the steering wheel all the way right and left, count the turns each way to verify its centered, loosen the locknut while holding the bolt with a screwdriver, then back off the slotted bolt till you have steering shaft play, 1-2 turns, (wiggle the rag joint back and forth) I try to adjust them down to where you can no longer feel the play but it is not feel tight, drive it, if it seems to wander I will go ahead and tighten it up a little more.
As a note, the average old box has 3-4 threads showing above the nut.
I wonder if the ram teflon seal is giving up under the header heat, the steering box bore gets really worn at center from the teflon seal, it may be by-passing pressure when hot.
Just my 2 cents, I hope you figure it out.
As a note, the average old box has 3-4 threads showing above the nut.
I wonder if the ram teflon seal is giving up under the header heat, the steering box bore gets really worn at center from the teflon seal, it may be by-passing pressure when hot.
Just my 2 cents, I hope you figure it out.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Mountville PA
Yes Flush that s**t out. I put a rebuilt gear in at one time, and it went out in a weak puking the fluid out the bottom seal. Took it back and they honored it under warranty and gave me another one. This time it acted like you described when just starting it up once you ran it to operating temp you could not turn the wheel! I took this box back and they gave me another one, and my dad just happen to help me put that one in as soon as he saw me pour the fluid in he asked me what the hell your using that stuff for, Even says type f trans fluid in my haynes manual. Oh well its how we all learn 1 step forward 2 steps back. I put type F fluid in that box and had it ever since has to be 15 yrs, no leaks, no noise. Everytime someone posts a power steering box problem I always post, because this is burned in my memory.
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