Hydro Assist Saginaw Chevy Box Problem - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

I Love Grits · 09-05-2006, 11:35 PM

Hey everyone,

Had a customer send me a Saginaw steering box from a 1997 Chevy 1500 Truck, I broke it down , replaced all seals, tapped it and reassembled it. UPS got it back to him today, he tossed it back on and I have the following problem:

This is without the ram attached, and with the fittings at the box capped.

"The steering seems to want to turn to the left. When I
turn the wheel, it turns to the left EXTREMELY easily. In fact, it's so
easy that if I get a little momentum behind it, it spins rapidly all the
way to the stop. Turning right is a different story. It takes slightly more effort than before I removed the steering box and stops suddenly when pressure is released (normal operation). "

I rebuilt the box with the power master seal kit, installed the balls into the worm gear by properly alternating them, liberally coated everything with power steering fluid and put it all back together. I'm just now starting to brain storm over what could be causing this, and need all the ideas you guys have.

I think the fitting on the lower port (which has high pressure when turning right) may be causing slight interference into the fluid flow, and that could be why he is experiencing more resistance. Im gonna get him to loosen it a thread or so, and see if he still has the same problem.

I am at a loss on what could be causing the left situation however.

I told him to jack the truck up, and turn from lock to lock with and without power and let me know what he notices as far as ease of turning etc.

I need some input guys!

gpjeep · 09-12-2006, 07:50 AM

The lines are backwards.

mouse · 09-17-2006, 07:30 AM

I agree, sounds like the lines are backwards.

I Love Grits · 09-19-2006, 05:57 PM

The lines from the power steering pump to the box are backwards?

82FB · 09-19-2006, 06:10 PM

no, from the box to the ram are backwards. switch them, should be fine

trollporter · 09-19-2006, 06:36 PM

He said the box is capped at the ports and the ram is not hooked up

troy

82FB · 09-19-2006, 08:01 PM

oh, oops. then i dunno. did he bleed all the air out already?

82FB · 09-19-2006, 08:03 PM

on my brothers truck we had to cut a bit off the end of the fitting so it would not block the port. was not a newer box, but might be similar

I Love Grits · 09-19-2006, 08:11 PM

I am leaning towards the fitting blocking the port as well - however, I did not hit the vain dead on. Ill have him take a look at it, try a new shallower fitting, and see what happens. Hopefully that will cure it, if not no big deal, Ill just send him a new box at my cost. Thanks guys.

09-05-2006, 11:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
I Love Grits Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Member # 48424 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	Hydro Assist Saginaw Chevy Box Problem Hey everyone, Had a customer send me a Saginaw steering box from a 1997 Chevy 1500 Truck, I broke it down , replaced all seals, tapped it and reassembled it. UPS got it back to him today, he tossed it back on and I have the following problem: This is without the ram attached, and with the fittings at the box capped. "The steering seems to want to turn to the left. When I turn the wheel, it turns to the left EXTREMELY easily. In fact, it's so easy that if I get a little momentum behind it, it spins rapidly all the way to the stop. Turning right is a different story. It takes slightly more effort than before I removed the steering box and stops suddenly when pressure is released (normal operation). " I rebuilt the box with the power master seal kit, installed the balls into the worm gear by properly alternating them, liberally coated everything with power steering fluid and put it all back together. I'm just now starting to brain storm over what could be causing this, and need all the ideas you guys have. I think the fitting on the lower port (which has high pressure when turning right) may be causing slight interference into the fluid flow, and that could be why he is experiencing more resistance. Im gonna get him to loosen it a thread or so, and see if he still has the same problem. I am at a loss on what could be causing the left situation however. I told him to jack the truck up, and turn from lock to lock with and without power and let me know what he notices as far as ease of turning etc. I need some input guys!

09-12-2006, 07:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
gpjeep Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Member # 71250 Posts: 35	The lines are backwards. __________________ [size=3]Build it, Run it, Break it, Fix it, Repeat![/size] Black 87' YJ with lots of shiny stuff, SBC, TH350, SOA front Dana 44 and 4-link spooled 9" rear, 36" IROKs

09-19-2006, 06:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
trollporter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Member # 44174 Location: Ladys Island, SC Posts: 410	He said the box is capped at the ports and the ram is not hooked up troy __________________ "Luck Favors the Oblivious" [url]www.gdimofo.com[/url] [url]www.gdi4x4.com[/url] Last edited by trollporter; 09-19-2006 at 06:37 PM.

09-19-2006, 08:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
I Love Grits Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Member # 48424 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	I am leaning towards the fitting blocking the port as well - however, I did not hit the vain dead on. Ill have him take a look at it, try a new shallower fitting, and see what happens. Hopefully that will cure it, if not no big deal, Ill just send him a new box at my cost. Thanks guys. Last edited by I Love Grits; 09-19-2006 at 08:11 PM.

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09-17-2006, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
mouse Wheeler Join Date: Sep 2005 Member # 53906 Posts: 220	I agree, sounds like the lines are backwards.

09-19-2006, 05:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
I Love Grits Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Member # 48424 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 166	The lines from the power steering pump to the box are backwards?

09-19-2006, 06:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
82FB Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 41 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 3,238	no, from the box to the ram are backwards. switch them, should be fine

09-19-2006, 08:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
82FB Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 41 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 3,238	oh, oops. then i dunno. did he bleed all the air out already?

09-19-2006, 08:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
82FB Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 41 Location: Ventura County, CA Posts: 3,238	on my brothers truck we had to cut a bit off the end of the fitting so it would not block the port. was not a newer box, but might be similar