I have just recently finished my truck, trying to make some short trips to town and back to see how everything is working. Saturday I was pulling into my driveway, and turning around the power steering quit working. I have a Volare IFS with the same steering box, and using a 78 Ford T-Bird power steering pump. I checked the fluid level, it was okay, I checked the belt, which is a serpentine on a March Performance system and the tension was okay on it.

I cranked my truck today and the power steering worked normal, turn left to right without any resistance, now does anybody have a clue why it quit working and started back working. I hate to drive it, because I am sure it will do the same thing at some point in time again.

Charlie

 

Air in the fluid? Did you bleed the air when you installed/started it? New box? Is it noisy?

 

It is a new box, been on the truck for a couple of months, bled it and pretty sure I don't have any air in the fluid, I don't have any nosie coming from the pump, or any kind of whin when you start turning the steering whieel. Could the pump have built up to much pressure for it to quit working, and then a couple of days later it worked okay because the pressure had decreased some? I have seen a lot of comments about the Ford pump pressure not working real good with the Volare box.

 

I have a Ford pump with Volare box and no problems. Wonder if your problem could be other than box? Maybe check all suspension connections for binding/loosness?

 

I've never heard of it failing intermittently.. now. on mine, I think I have a low pressure problem on the pump.. the new 56 I have also has the volare, and its like night and day different.. almost jumpy..
the green has a Mercedes pump, the 56 has a ford pump.
I'm going to buy one of the pressure testers to check it out after Pigeon Forge this week..

what is the status of your pump? new, old, rebuilt? hoses?..

Sam

 

The pump is rebuilt from Autozone, and my hoses are new, put them on with the rebuilt pump. Steve, you mentioned testing the pressure on yours, can you tell me how that is done, where can I get a pressure tester and how much pressure should I have on my Ford pump?

Charlie

 

Sam, I listed your name as Steve in my post, sorry about that, I know better because I have seen your name a lot of times on different replies.

Charlie

 

I think Sam once told me that Volare boxes need 900-1100 psi.

 

according to the chrysler spec book..
Sam

 

np .. i've been called lots of things!
you can edit your posts now

Sam

 

the pressure tester fits inline on the pressure hose..

Heres a link to the tool I intend to get..
S & G Tool Aid 34650 Tester - Hydraulics

Sam

 

Sam, I appreciate the info, I need to check the pressure on that line. Thanks,

Charlie

 

Ok, nobody's come up with a solution (guess) for why the unit stopped working and is working again. I have a theory:

Step 1; You backed out of the driveway and turned the steering wheel until it hit the steering stop.

Step 2: the PS pump starting bi-passing pressure as it is designed to do when its pressure goes too high.

Step 3: the bi-pass stuck open so that the pump was not producing enough pressure to operate correctly.

Step 4: You parked the truck mad about its lack of proper operation.

Step 5: You checked the truck today, and the bi-pass is closed again so it steers correctly.

I predict that you will find that your PS unit has some crud in it that needs to be flushed out. A simple check to see if I am right is to try the same backing manuever again. You'll know when you hit the bi-pass by the sound it makes when you get the wheel turned all the way to the side. By the way, I try never to turn the wheel all the way until the PS unit has to bi-pass. I don't think that it is good for it.

Give it a try and let us know the solution. Jag

 

Yeh, I would leave the gauge connected til you get the failure, then you will know which side has the problem.

Sam

 

You may be right it may need to be flushed, I am going to drive it again this afternoon and see if the steering will act up again. Jag, you are certainly correct about step #4, without a doubt. I sometimes think this truck is just not meant for the road.

Charlie