Power Steering Trouble Shooting

C

craigar

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
7
Location
Buckhorn, Ontario, Canada
My 69 has power steering but feels like it is a standard system!
No leaks, pump works, plenty of fluid!
What is the correct way to test and find the problem?
I don't want to replace everything unless it needs it.
Thanks in advance for anyones help!
 
My personal car has this issue only at low rpms and all parts are new. Belt is tight. If I blip the throttle I get it back.
 
if you have that, your pump has too little output (flow) at low rpm. Change the flow valve.
 
Where do I get a new/correct flow valve? Rebuild kits do not include it. This is screwed into the back of the pump correct?
 
It's in the fitting you screw the pressure line in, I never use the stock pumps, I always get an aluminum KRC pump right off the bat and have a whole bunch of flow valves for those.
 
Did you ever have power assist?
Did you suddenly lose assist?
Did you just buy the C3?
Makes a lot a difference in trying to diagnose the problem.
Need more information.
Jim
 
TT - I love the FRC pump. However I would like to use my new pump because I powerdered coated it all nice and pretty. Can I remove the fiting and drill out the orifice to increase the volume?
 
I don't know, maybe you can remove it and buy a bigger one??? I think the sweet pumps are Saginaw pumps, maybe they have flow valves.
 
Thanks for bringing this around to the srarting question!

RPM makes no difference, I've had the car for 3 years now, it did steer easier when I first bought it.

I've changed the engine to a ZZ454 and installed a Classic Motorsports 600 5 speed transmission.

Yes.....the lines are hooked up correctly!

What I'd like to know is how to test the system, what pressure should you have on what line ect.
 
Have you checked the idler arm? Just thinking out loud, but if one or more of the joints are locked up that could be part of the problem. I've seen steering knuckles that were frozen so it stands to reason that an idler arm could too.
I'd really suspect the cylinder or pump first, but it's a thought.

IIRC, the pressure should be somewhere around 1800 PSI. Jim is the guy that will know for sure, so don't take my number as gospel.
 
TimAT said:
IIRC, the pressure should be somewhere around 1800 PSI. Jim is the guy that will know for sure, so don't take my number as gospel.
Click to expand...

Sorry Tim. C-3 pumps have the pressure relief valve at 1,000 PSI max. The hoses and seals are rated at 1,000 PSI. The trucks ran at 1,500PSI.
 
The front end components are in good working order, it must be either the valve assembly, or the cylinder.

I'll change them both, though I hate being a parts changer trying to figure this out!
 
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