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power steering weak

1K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  inferno camaro 
#1 ·
I finally have my car back together but the power steering isn't working right. It has some assist but not nearly enough and not smooth. I doesn't make any noise or whine at all. It also varies from firm to nearly no help. It has a new pump and I've tried 2 pumps with same results. The new pumps have a female fitting on the pressure side and mine was male so I have been switching it so my lines will work. From what I see it should be male on a 67. Any help is appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Just shooting in the dark, but did you swap in a quick steering box for a standard one? I recall reading something about newer Saginaw boxes needing more pressure, old pumps made under 1000 psi and the 84 and later boxes work better with 1200-1400 psi. Check Dave Pozzi's page.
 
#5 · (Edited)
No, They are the same inside.
Two factors come into play, pressure and flow.
Low pressure affects low speed operation the most. If you lose boost at idle or low rpm's it's likely the pressure is too low.
If the system loses boost when you turn the steering wheel faster than normal, then it's lacking flow.

Stock pressures for a first gen are around 800 to 900 psi. Since all tires we use are wider, the load is higher and we now need 1100 psi or so.
There is a kit available to change the shim on your pressure valve. The most important part in the kit is a slice of aluminum tube that helps you safely clamp the valve in a vise so you can remove some shims and increase pressure.
As far as flow, you should drill out the flow orifice to around .140" ID. Drill it too large, and the system get's too jerky. Too small and it can't keep up with you during fast movements.
 
#6 ·
Great info thanks. I'm going to try the female fitting that comes with the new pumps, it looks to have a slightly larger hole in it. Sounds like I may be low on flow and pressure by the symptoms described.




No, They are the same inside.
Two factors come into play, pressure and flow.
Low pressure affects low speed operation the most. If you lose boost at idle or low rpm's it's likely the pressure is too low.
If the system loses boost when you turn the steering wheel faster than normal, then it's lacking flow.

Stock pressures for a first gen are around 800 to 900 psi. Since all tires we use are wider, the load is higher and we now need 1100 psi or so.
There is a kit available to change the shim on your pressure valve. The most important part in the kit is a slice of aluminum tube that helps you safely clamp the valve in a vise so you can remove some shims and increase pressure.
As far as flow, you should drill out the flow orifice to around .140" ID. Drill it too large, and the system get's too jerky. Too small and it can't keep up with you during fast movements.
 
#10 ·
I agree with all the info David gave you. However, this line in your first post makes me wonder: "It also varies from firm to nearly no help."


I think you may have an internal issue with the box. It certainly won't hurt to increase the flow just a bit.

I recently installed a later model box on my 68 El Camino that I rebuilt in the early 90's and worked perfectly. It had been sitting since 97. At first, it was very balky; assist worked better left than right, and it seemed to have no assist for the first instant in either direction. Flushed the fluid though a couple times, and added some Lucas PS conditioner and within a couple days it worked great. Been working fine ever since.

Not saying you don't need increased flow. It can have a dramatic effect. I remember back in the 80's a guy brought in a Chevy truck that the steering would start out OK for about 1/8 of a turn then get hard all of a sudden. I assumed (wrongfully) that it needed a pump. Changed the pump, re-using the pressure output fitting, and it did the same thing. The customer had failed to tell me a buddy had put a new pump on for him, and that is when the issue started. Pulled the fitting and noticed how small the orifice was.
 
#13 ·
I put a new box on and cranked it lock to lock about 20 times to make sure air was out and it acted fine. I drove it around the driveway all seemed great. I took it a 1/2 mile down the road and went to turn around and no power steering. It will work if I rev it way up but no power steering below that.
 
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