Hello folks. I'm new here and just posted an intro in the Newby section. Haven't been able to update the profile yet. Here's my problem. I rebuilt my power steering system with new seals because it was leaking. Everything works and it doesn't really have a problem until you turn the wheel to full lock at either side. Once you do that it starts gushing fluid out of the seals around the lower shaft that attaches to the pitman arm. I replaced the lower seals again, this time loading the seals with grease to hopefully spread out the pressure between the two seals. Turn it to full lock and it still pours out. :af: I'm hitting a wall. Like I said it only really leaks at full turn. It's like it's not relieving it's pressure once it gets to that point. I'm starting to think that up at the rear of the power steering pump might be the problem. The spring and plunger that holds the disc against the vane is how you get pressure. Maybe at full lock the pressure is supposed to push the disc against the plunger, compressing the spring and relieving the excess pressure? There is an amazing lack of information on the internet. Shop manual won't be here for a week. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks, David
Welcome to the site, David. Where are you from? Got any pics of your car? As you can see, I have a '56 Special too. It has power steering which works great so I'm not going to be much help to you. There are a couple of other guys who have mid '50s Buicks who will probably reply in the next couple of days and who should be able to help you. I just bought my car last November and have received massive amounts of advice from these guys so please be patient because you'll probably have your car fixed by this weekend. Don't forget to post some pics and good luck.... :TU:
Update: I don't belive the pump is the problem. Removed the pump, lifted the front end in the air and turned fully to either side and it still leaked, without fluid being under pressure. So it has to be the box. (Lares #8489) My next guess was the two bushings that the lower shaft rides in. The shaft measured 1.247" with about .0005" wear in bushing locations, so the shaft is fine. Bushings measured 1.255"-1.260". That means there is .008"-.013" clearance between bushing and shaft. I think that's my problem. The shaft rides pretty straight with fairly tight clearance until you get to the end of travel. That puts side pressure on the shaft which makes it touch one side of the bushing while allowing a .008"-013" gap on the other side for fluid to leak out. At least it makes sense to me. Would a judge buy that story? P.S. Did you know that Lares Corp. Charges $400 plus shipping to rebuild one of these bad boys??
Yeah, their supposed to be the "Pros". Screwed me over a few times. Never did take care of the problems. Ended up doing it on my own with LOTS of research & thoughts/help from others.
Update: Ordered a set of bushings for the box. Couldn't find any in the exact size. Ended up getting some that had the correct O.D. but the I.D. is undersized and will need honed out quite a bit to fit the shaft. Fingers crossed!
Letting you know I have one ++ NEW ++ DELCO (only!!) Master Cylinder for the 1956 Buick Special..... one yea, one car only, V E R Y unique Master Cylinder ------ the wildest Master Cylinder in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds to me like a problem at the seals for the valve body at the top of the steering shaft. Pressures are highest then you are cocking the wheel, sending PS fluid into the gear box, and forcing oil and PS fluid out at the easiest points. The seal at the bottom of the pitman shaft only needs to hold gear oil in at atmospheric pressure. But add PS fluid, thinner yet, under pressure and you get your problem. Sounds like you need to go back and look at the seals along the steering shaft at the valve assembly. I have rebuilt one of these on a '54 which has a solid steering shaft all the way to t he horn button. Good luck, yours is a lot easier to work on than mine. You may not even have to remove the unit to fix this...
You may be right. Sort of. I do not envy you with the full length shaft on that box... I just got everything assembled again, start it up, turn to full lock, and same problem. Driving me a bit crazy. My manual finally came and I'm inspecting the valve body. As far as seals, there is basically only one internal with two little ones. I don't think any of those ones would cause any issues. But as I'm looking, I never took apart the control valve spool. It apparently comes apart and has a "reaction control spool" and spring. I'm thinking that may be stuck since the car sat for so long. Reading the manual seems to point to that being a pressure relief. BTW Whenever I do get this actually sealed right, I've got a second power steering system I can rebuild if anybody is interested.... lol
Luckily the brakes are working just fine right now. I'll keep you in mind if they go out! And in regards to the power steering, it's looking like the "reaction control spool" inside of the "control valve spool" was probably the issue. I disassembled the spool, made sure everything was free, put it back together and didn't leak when I turned full left as it had been before. Now I just need to change the pitman shaft seal (AGAIN) and it should be good. Fingers crossed.
Just finally replying to all of you folks. If you hadn't seen in the other thread, I'm in Clay Center Kansas. Still trying to get the car uploaded onto my profile. It'll get there at some point... anyway I'll attach a couple pictures in this thread too.
