power steering issue

[swisherred]

I noticed the other day that when the engine is under load and steering there can be a dead spot where the wheel just hangs...unless i let up on the gas. I figured loose belt. tightened it and it seemed better. Later I noticed sitting in the driveway at idle, the wheel moves freely, but rev it a little and the wheel will turn easy one way, but cant be turned back unless I let off the gas, then it frees up. It will do this in both directions. Free one way then wont return unless i let off the gas.
Took it for a short drive, and it seemed fine. Im missing something somewhere....thoughts???

 

[HWYCRZR]

Sounds like something could be off with your centering valve on your steering gear. Or debris plugging one side of your centering valve.
If you lift the wheels of the ground and start it, does the wheel want to turn one way Or the other on its own? (proper way is to unhook the steering arm, so there is no drag.).
There’s a good write up in the service manual on the procedure.

 

[Davea Lux]

I noticed the other day that when the engine is under load and steering there can be a dead spot where the wheel just hangs...unless i let up on the gas. I figured loose belt. tightened it and it seemed better. Later I noticed sitting in the driveway at idle, the wheel moves freely, but rev it a little and the wheel will turn easy one way, but cant be turned back unless I let off the gas, then it frees up. It will do this in both directions. Free one way then wont return unless i let off the gas.
Took it for a short drive, and it seemed fine. Im missing something somewhere....thoughts???

Sounds like the power assist valve on the gear might be defective, might have an internal leak. If the steering wheel self steers in one direction, the valve is improperly adjusted. As you have a hang up in both directions, this is not an adjustment issue. What kind of shape are your hoses in? A hose that is restricted will sometimes cause some weird issues with the PA valve. Another issue could be the bypass valve in the power steering pump may be shot to where the pump is throwing too much pressure to the PA valve. I would start by checking the condition of the hoses. If you have recently adjusted the power steering gear to take up excessive free play, you may have set the adjustment too tight. Gears wear out in the center so when the adjustment is too tight, the gear hangs up on either end of the travel.

Dave

 

[swisherred]

I was thinking it might have something to do with the PA valve...I did recently change the seals in the pump, but nothing else. Awhile back i had to replace the aluminum nipple part on the valve body because one side cracked, but it has run fine....til now. I think the hoses were replaced at one point. Not sure how to check the internal condition of them.

 

[swisherred]

I havent jacked it up to test self steer, but I havent noticed anything.

 

[HWYCRZR]

If you recently changed old seals in your pump you may have dislodged some debris that made its way through the lines into your valve.

 

[swisherred]

I will go through the tests and try to locate the issue. I cleaned the pump really well when I replaced the seals, but I may have dislodged contaminants, or it could be a sticking valve body, or even the measurement on the coupler being off from when I reinstalled everything. One more system to get into and learn about I guess. I still have no brakes so I have time to get into this. Maybe I will tear it all apart for the hell of it.

 

[Davea Lux]

I will go through the tests and try to locate the issue. I cleaned the pump really well when I replaced the seals, but I may have dislodged contaminants, or it could be a sticking valve body, or even the measurement on the coupler being off from when I reinstalled everything. One more system to get into and learn about I guess. I still have no brakes so I have time to get into this. Maybe I will tear it all apart for the hell of it.

Be sure to scribe the position of the PA valve before you remove it should that prove necessary. PA valves can be a real PIA to adjust if the proper position is lost

Dave

 

[swisherred]

The more I think about it and the more Chrysler tech videos I watch, the more I think about the return pressure relief valve I replaced. I cracked the housing and bought a new Dorman one....if I'm thinking correctly (and the new valve was just crap and/ or failed) this might be preventing the excess pressure from bypassing the valve body keeping me from returning the wheel to center by applying all the pressure to one side of the control valve. I have another from another gear box that I think i will swap that first and see if it corrects the issue before I tear into the whole thing. If that doesn't fix it then i will take the control valve body off and check/replace it. I will still check the belt and hoses first though.

 

[swisherred]

Ok...took my power steering pump out to pull the flow valve...it had some junk in the screen so I cleaned that and put it back together....now I have no power steering at all....figures. POS.

 

[swisherred]

After puking PS fluid all over the engine bay and everything in it.....I took a nap. No clue why it did that. I just pulled the pump back off...rotated it and oil came out so I know the vanes are working...and that isn't clogged. I turned the steering wheel and oil came out the return...so that's not clogged. I pulled the flow valve again....slides just fine...not stuck. I don't understand what happened or how to fix it.

 

[Davea Lux]

After puking PS fluid all over the engine bay and everything in it.....I took a nap. No clue why it did that. I just pulled the pump back off...rotated it and oil came out so I know the vanes are working...and that isn't clogged. I turned the steering wheel and oil came out the return...so that's not clogged. I pulled the flow valve again....slides just fine...not stuck. I don't understand what happened or how to fix it.

PA valve is probably blocked or stuck. FSM shows how to service it.

Dave

 

[swisherred]

I think it is possible that I disengaged the pressure plate from the cam plate in the pump...preventing it from priming...but Im not sure. I took the PA valve apart and cleaned it...no blockage, moves freely....now I have to replace those O-rings though. The hose is clear as well. Trying to work through this. I have no way of testing the pressure coming from the pump.....