POWER STEERING WORKS TO LEFT BUT NO PS WHEN TURN TO RIGHT?????? 71GTX Resto Mod

[Grumpy]

Here's the story, if anyone can help I'd appreciate it before I put in a new steering box and PS unit.

Machine shop before yanking the 440 for a second build ran the motor HOT, I'm mean super hot. The PS fluid was BOILING.

Now engine back in after build and I've got power steering to the left, but it's like manual to the right. The steering box was rebuilt when I did the resto a year ago, and PS pump in from March with a serpentine system.

Unless someone has any ideas I'm going to just throw money at it and replace both pump and box. Not in a hurry to drop $750 to fix it.

Think it might be the relief valve in the steering box stuck?

Any ideas are mucho appreciated.

Grumpy Dave

 

[jenkins71]

Yeah. Jack up the front end of the car so both front tires are off the ground. Then, reach in and start the car. DO NO REACH THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL!!! See if, upon starting, the wheel spins on its own to one side. In your sitch, it would probably spin to the left. Possibly very fast. This is why you don't want to reach through the wheel.
See if that happens, then you can go about adjusting the valve body on top of the chuck.
How do you do that? With engine off, crack the two bolts that hold the valve body (the piece that the hoses attach to) and start the engine. Then, using a rubber hammer, tap the valve body either "up" (towards the steering wheel along the axis of the column) or "down". Eventually you'll get it to where the steering wheel spins right, then you'll tap it the other way and finally you'll get it to where the wheel doesn't move at all.

 

[Grumpy]

Great. I'll try it this week and report back. That's an easy fix if that's what it is.

 

[jimt1971rr]

I hope the adjustment works for you. I am concerned that it happened after the super heating of the fluid. My concern would be that it possibly varnished some of the fluid causing an uneven pressure between the two chambers. I hope I am wrong, but if the adjustment doesn't work you may need to either clean or replace the box.

 

[onephat66]

Yeah. Jack up the front end of the car so both front tires are off the ground. Then, reach in and start the car. DO NO REACH THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL!!! See if, upon starting, the wheel spins on its own to one side. In your sitch, it would probably spin to the left. Possibly very fast. This is why you don't want to reach through the wheel.
See if that happens, then you can go about adjusting the valve body on top of the chuck.
How do you do that? With engine off, crack the two bolts that hold the valve body (the piece that the hoses attach to) and start the engine. Then, using a rubber hammer, tap the valve body either "up" (towards the steering wheel along the axis of the column) or "down". Eventually you'll get it to where the steering wheel spins right, then you'll tap it the other way and finally you'll get it to where the wheel doesn't move at all.

I concur with jenkins71. It's your gear box, not the pump. Just needs adjustment.

 

[onephat66]

Oh yeah, sweet car by the way!!!!

 

[Funship32]

Yeah. Jack up the front end of the car so both front tires are off the ground. Then, reach in and start the car. DO NO REACH THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL!!! See if, upon starting, the wheel spins on its own to one side. In your sitch, it would probably spin to the left. Possibly very fast. This is why you don't want to reach through the wheel.
l.

Had a '68 Plymouth Sports Suburban wagon that would just spin the steering wheel to the left even with the wheels on the ground! Adjusting the block was the fix and suspect it will work for you.

 

[Darius]

BEAUTIFUL car Bro! Sorry to hear of your problem, sounds like the adjustment idea should be the fix. I have not seen this but I spoke with a guy who told a similar story and his fix was the adjustment.

 

[Grumpy]

Just wanted to let you know, and thanks again, it worked. I barely tapped on the valve body and it's cookin'.