Power steering - bad valve?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, Colorado
Power steering - bad valve?
In the last couple of days I noticed a distinct change in my truck's power steering.....
Turning to the left, the valve seems to actuate as normal and the wheels turn with power assist as they should....turning to the right, however, has become very different....mainly, I can take the wheel through about 75 - 80 degrees of arc(about 12-13 inches along the circumference of the wheel...almost a quarter turn) before I get any solid assist on the turn....
In addition, the truck has begun to "wander" a bit while driving due to this new play....I had been hearing some buzzing from the power steering pump, but half of all the ones I've had made that sound and worked fine....
I'm assuming my valve has gone bad (yet again), considering this effects one direction only. I checked all the hoses and none appear cracked, broken or leaking in any way.
Whaddya think? Valve...? Pump? Valve and pump?
Turning to the left, the valve seems to actuate as normal and the wheels turn with power assist as they should....turning to the right, however, has become very different....mainly, I can take the wheel through about 75 - 80 degrees of arc(about 12-13 inches along the circumference of the wheel...almost a quarter turn) before I get any solid assist on the turn....
In addition, the truck has begun to "wander" a bit while driving due to this new play....I had been hearing some buzzing from the power steering pump, but half of all the ones I've had made that sound and worked fine....
I'm assuming my valve has gone bad (yet again), considering this effects one direction only. I checked all the hoses and none appear cracked, broken or leaking in any way.
Whaddya think? Valve...? Pump? Valve and pump?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
I have seen and had great success with LUCAS POWER STEERING STOP LEAK. It has stopped noise and made the system work like it is supposed to.
Try to get at least half of a bottle in the pump, then lift the front wheels off the ground, start the truck engine and turn the steering wheel lock to lock about 20 times. This should get rid of any air that may have gotten in the system.
The Lucus isn't expensive, and the air flush is free. Give it a try and report back.
John
Try to get at least half of a bottle in the pump, then lift the front wheels off the ground, start the truck engine and turn the steering wheel lock to lock about 20 times. This should get rid of any air that may have gotten in the system.
The Lucus isn't expensive, and the air flush is free. Give it a try and report back.
John
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, Colorado
Would you believe "loose steering box?" lol
I did as you suggested and jacked it up, added the lucas and did the back and forth thing.....
Then, I sat down next to the front driver's side tire and grabbed it at 3 and 9 and just started "bump-steering" the system from end to end....I noticed the shaft from the steering box was floating up and down.....so I tightened up all three bolts and it appears to have taken away the play.
With regard to the steering box bolts....I have 3 that go through the steering box housing and then the "c" beam and have bolts.....should there be a wahser, split washer or something of the sort in there to keep it tight?
I did as you suggested and jacked it up, added the lucas and did the back and forth thing.....
Then, I sat down next to the front driver's side tire and grabbed it at 3 and 9 and just started "bump-steering" the system from end to end....I noticed the shaft from the steering box was floating up and down.....so I tightened up all three bolts and it appears to have taken away the play.
With regard to the steering box bolts....I have 3 that go through the steering box housing and then the "c" beam and have bolts.....should there be a wahser, split washer or something of the sort in there to keep it tight?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
You can use lock washers, but I'd be worried about creating stress risers that can turn into cracks around the bolt holes- It's a very common problem, though not so common on the ram assist trucks. Maybe some red Locktite?
