For your next steering repair, O'Reilly Auto Parts offers a selection of replacement steering gear boxes, pitman arms, tie rods, and more to help you complete your repair and get back on the road safely. Superb quality reproduction of the original power steering return hose clamps designed for use with various 1958-82 GM models with power steering. If you notice any of these symptoms, the steering gear box may need to be replaced or rebuilt to restore the steering system to proper functionality. Classic Industries offers 1963 Ford Thunderbird Steering Components. This can make it difficult to control the vehicle, and may also cause grinding noises, burning oil smells, or power steering fluid leaks. Over time, the gears and bearings inside the steering gear box can wear out, causing looseness or play in the steering. In manual systems, the driver provides all the force needed to turn the wheels, and in power-assisted systems, the driver is assisted by hydraulic power from the power steering pump while turning the wheels. The steering gear box on your vehicle may be manual or power-assisted, depending on the design of your car.
Input from the steering wheel and steering column turns a gear inside the steering gear box that moves the pitman arm pressed onto the output shaft gear, and the pitman arm may have to be removed and installed on a replacement gearbox if necessary. The steering box can be found on the driver's side of the vehicle, attached to the frame and connected to the steering linkage. The pump can now be removed from its mount brackets.The steering gear box is responsible for translating the rotation of the steering wheel through the steering linkage into wheel movement to turn the vehicle. Photo # 5 – Once the tank reservoir is removed it will be easy to remove the pressure line to control valve, three bolts holding the pump bracket to engine mount bracket P/N 3C511, and nut from support bracket to exhaust manifold P/N 3562. Photo # 4 – The tank reservoir and filter retainer can be removed with a deep socket. Photo # 3 – Remove the return hose from the tank return tube, you should find the line completely drained. Some fluid will remain in the bottom of the tank under the filter retainer which can be wiped clean with a paper towel. The return hose outlet is in the recessed area of the filter retainer base.
Cavitation is when you suck in air into the system on the suction side of the pump. My experience with the groaning noise at low RPM when you just start out was due to cavitation of the power steering pump. Photo # 2- Next remove the pump reservoir top lid and filter you will find the fluid level to be below the return hose outlet opening in the filter retainer. Check your fittings and hose on the suction side of the pump ( reservoir to pump). Removing the rear hose on the control valve will allow most of the fluid to drain from the pump reservoir. Photo # 1- Under the car, you will notice two hoses from the power steering control valve to the power steering ram cylinder. The 1955/56 models are slightly different, but the removal procedures are the same. Pictures shown in this article are of a 1957 model. The first step is to remove the fluid without major spillage. A few simple steps will allow the power steering pump to be removed fairly easily.